Danny Boyle. Photo: gdcgraphics CC-BY-SA-2.0
Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle’s film about the American climber who cut off his own arm to escape an isolated canyon in Utah will be the closing film of this year’s London Film Festival.
Starring James Franco, 127 Hours tells the story of Aron Ralston, who was trapped for five days in Blue John Canyon after falling while climbing and becoming wedged by boulders.
He then abseiled down a rockface and walked 13km (eight miles) to safety.
The film, based on the climber’s book Between a Rock and a Hard Place, will have its European premiere as part of the British Film Institute festival on 28 October this year. The Oscar-winning director will team up with Academy Award winning screenwriter Simon Beaufoy and producer Christian Colson for the movie, which will go on general release in the UK in January next year.
Aron Ralston. Photo: DLR 1967 CC-BY-SA-3.0
Danny Boyle said: “I am honoured and delighted that 127 Hours has been selected to close the BFI London Film Festival. LFF played a vital role in the journey of Slumdog Millionaire in 2008 and it’s great to be bringing new work here and renewing a happy partnership. I can’t wait to unveil the new film and I hope it provides a worthy climax to what will hopefully be two weeks of great movies for our city.”
Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire closed the festival two years ago and went on to sweep the board in that year’s Oscars, winning eight of its ten nominations.
Sandra Hebron, the festival’s artistic director said: “It is unprecedented for us to choose a closing-night film from the same director only two years later.
“But 127 Hours was the obvious choice for us; with filmmaking as bold and adventurous as its subject matter, it confirms Danny Boyle as one of the world’s finest and most visionary directors, and will be a very fitting close to the festival.”
Aron Ralston’s accident happened in May 2003 when he was forced to cut off the lower half of his right arm with a multi-tool when close to death from dehydration after being pinned down by a dislodged boulder. He still climbs and has announced his intention to attempt Everest next month.
