#HotDocs24 Review: Fly

By John Corrado

The 2024 Hot Docs Film Festival runs from April 25th to May 5th in Toronto

Standing on the edge of a cliff or tall building and taking the leap with only a parachute or wingsuit to catch you might not be everyone’s idea of a good time. But it’s the regular pursuit of BASE Jumpers, who leap off of mountains for sport and fun, to the point where it almost becomes like an addiction.

In their gripping extreme sports documentary Fly, co-directors Christina Clusiau and Saul Schwarz introduce us to several figures within the BASE Jumping community, including three couples; Jimmy and Marta, Espen and Amber, as well as Scotty and Julia. Jimmy and Marta are colloquially known as the “first couple” of BASE Jumping, who chose not to have kids, instead mentoring up-and-coming jumpers in the community (including throwing annual parties in Las Vegas).

It’s a tight-knit community (many only date other jumpers), where it’s common to know people who have died or were badly injured doing this, which binds them together. They jump together and mourn together, but it’s all done in pursuit of feeling alive. Clusiau and Schwarz capture some thrilling, nerve-wracking footage, utilizing GoPros and drones. We watch as they take wild leaps, and debate the use of parachutes versus wingsuits, which give more mobility in the air but are also inherently more risky.

There can be a hedonism inherent to the community, but Clusiau and Schwarz are able to go beyond that. Shot over the course of seven years, we watch some of the subjects mature as different priorities take hold in their lives, while still finding ways to fulfill their thrill-seeking desires. In this way, Fly serves as both an intense and visually stunning look at the extreme sport of BASE Jumping, but also a multifaceted love story exploring how attitudes towards risk-taking can shift over your life. It’s pretty incredible stuff.

Film Rating: ★★★½ (out of 4)