SOLO

2008

Directed by Jennifer Peedom and David Michôd

Produced by Jennifer Peedom

An intimate and harrowing portrait of one man’s attempt to cross one of the world’s most treacherous oceans alone.

In January 2007, Australian adventurer Andrew McAuley set out to become the first person to kayak solo across the Tasman Sea from Tasmania to New Zealand. For thirty days, he battled violent storms, towering waves, freezing temperatures and profound isolation. With the New Zealand coast almost within reach, maritime authorities received a distress call. His empty kayak was later recovered, but Andrew was never found.

Drawing on footage Andrew recorded during the crossing, alongside material from his preparations and interviews with his wife, Vicki, and members of his support team, Solo reconstructs an extraordinary journey while confronting the questions at its heart: what drives someone to risk everything in pursuit of an impossible goal, and what is the cost borne by those left behind?

Both gripping and deeply personal, the film is a portrait of courage, obsession and the restless human desire to test the limits of the possible.

Festivals and Awards

Solo premiered at the Sheffield International Documentary Festival in 2008 and went on to screen at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) and the Adelaide Film Festival.

The film won the 2009 AFI Award for Best Documentary Under One Hour, the 2010 Australian Directors Guild Award for Best Direction in a Documentary, and the Film Critics Circle of Australia Award for Best Documentary. It also won Best Film on Mountain Sports at the 2009 Banff Mountain Film Festival.

Reviews

“Extraordinarily affecting.  Beyond poignant.” - Sydney Morning Herald

“An achingly moving tale.” - Who Magazine

“Seamlessly assembled.  Beautiful.” - Green Guide, The Age

“Tragic and heartbreaking... Deeply moving... Highly artful and cinematic.  An ultimately haunting picture.” - FILMINK

“An astonishing documentary... Unforgettable.” - EMPIRE