What does it take to stare into the abyss and jump?

Poets of the mountain, and of the void. Why does risking death sometimes bring the most exquisite joy?

Freedom is defined as the power of self-determination attributed to the will; the quality of being independent of fate or necessity. To reach the level of liberty encapsulated by the concept of being truly free is both a physical and mental endeavour, one that some will risk even their life to obtain. But is it really worth it?

That’s the question Olympic freestyle skier Jossi Wells must ask himself as he meets extreme sports performance artists The Flying Frenchies, and takes on the challenge of his life thousands of metres above the ground.

The Free Man – Official Trailer (Universal Pictures) HD

The Free Man documentary film trailer

‘The Free Man’ is a breathtaking new documentary that explores the unique world of extreme aerial pursuits like high lining, base jumping and wingsuiting, and what it takes to become one of the small tribe of humans who chase unpowered flight amongst even the most majestic mountain peaks.

Shot in New Zealand and France, the film offers a rare insight into the story of men who push themselves to the point of no return; men who quite literally stare into the abyss and who embrace the fact that any moment at the top of a peak or on the face of a cliff could be their last.

The Free Man is available for digital download from April 10, and on DVD from April 24