(2007)
Karina Hollekim is a young Norwegian woman who was born with a love for the most dangerous sport in the world: BASE jumping. 20 Seconds of Joy is a depiction of five years in the life of this extreme athlete.
BASE jumping guru Jeb Corliss recalls an early conversation he had with Karina where he bluntly warned her that if she partook in the sport long enough, she would die. But the veteran also recalls looking into Karina’s eyes and not sensing an ounce of fear, even in her earliest jumps. It was as though she thrived in those seconds when most people would be paralyzed with terror.
The shots of Norwegian Fjords and various mountains are stunning in and of themselves. To see Hollekim and others diving into oblivion with nothing more than a small parachute on their backs is astounding. Jumps are made across the world from the Perrine Bridge (Idaho, US) to the Gorges du Verdon (France).
The film builds on these powerful visuals by delving into the psychological motivations of thrill seekers. The blast of adrenaline from BASE jumping is unparalleled, and it is what drives jumpers to take these ultimate risks. The rush is likened to a drug, and for Hollekim, the addiction is strong.
*SPOILER ALERT* As the film progressed, it became more and more apparent that Hollekim was not going to make the conscious decision to stop jumping. This story would not end with her deciding to pack away her parachute and take up some other hobby. It could only end in one of two ways, and I was relieved to find that it concluded with the “happy” ending: (severe) injury.BASE jumping guru Jeb Corliss recalls an early conversation he had with Karina where he bluntly warned her that if she partook in the sport long enough, she would die. But the veteran also recalls looking into Karina’s eyes and not sensing an ounce of fear, even in her earliest jumps. It was as though she thrived in those seconds when most people would be paralyzed with terror.
The shots of Norwegian Fjords and various mountains are stunning in and of themselves. To see Hollekim and others diving into oblivion with nothing more than a small parachute on their backs is astounding. Jumps are made across the world from the Perrine Bridge (Idaho, US) to the Gorges du Verdon (France).
The film builds on these powerful visuals by delving into the psychological motivations of thrill seekers. The blast of adrenaline from BASE jumping is unparalleled, and it is what drives jumpers to take these ultimate risks. The rush is likened to a drug, and for Hollekim, the addiction is strong.
Perhaps a result of the succinctness of the radical acts, (as Hollekim herself so eloquently referred to as "20 seconds of joy") the film clocks in at a crisp but fitting 60 minutes.
20 Seconds of Joy won Best Film on Mountain Sports as well as The People’s Choice Award at the 2007 Banff Mountain Film Festival in Banff, Alberta, Canada.
Trivial Tidbits:
- B.A.S.E. an acronym for the stages from which one jumps: Buildings, Antennas, Spans, and Earth
- The I. B. Perrine Bridge (Twin Falls, Idaho) is the only man-made structure in the U.S. where BASE jumping is legal year round sans permit
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