 Touching the Void beat films like Love Actually at the Baftas |
Touching the Void, the film of a real-life mountaineering survival story, has become the most successful documentary in UK cinema history. The movie, which was named best British film at Sunday's Bafta Awards, has taken �1.68m at British box offices.
That has pushed it past Michael Moore's Bowling For Columbine, at number two, and In Bed With Madonna in third place.
Touching the Void tells the story of two climbers fighting for their lives on the Peruvian Andes in 1985.
 | MOST SUCCESSFUL DOCUMENTARIES IN THE UK 1. Touching the Void - �1.68m 2. Bowling for Columbine - �1.67m 3. In Bed with Madonna - �1.25m 4. Buena Vista Social Club - �955,000 5. Etre et Avoir - �705,000 Source: Pathe/AC Nielsen EDI |
It was based on the book by Joe Simpson, who was left dangling over an ice crevasse by his climbing partner Simon Yates - who cut the rope in order to save one of them. But against the odds Mr Simpson managed to get back down to base camp on his own.
The climbers returned to the mountains to relive their original experiences on film.
It was the surprise winner of the Bafta for British film of the year, beating more commercial contenders like Love Actually, Cold Mountain and Girl with a Pearl Earring.
After the Baftas, director Kevin MacDonald said he felt like a "fraud" when he collected the award.
He said it was rare in the UK for people to go to the cinema to see a documentary - but viewers felt "a strong emotion when they saw it".
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