Most Inspirational Travel Film
127 Hours
Director: Danny Boyle
Producer: Danny Boyle
Screenplay: Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy
Distributed by: Fox Searchlight Pictures
UK release: 2011
The story behind 127 Hours
127 Hours tells the incredible true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston, who becomes trapped in a crevice in the Blue John Canyon in Utah after a boulder falls onto his arm. With no food, no water and no prospect of being rescued, Ralston is forced to amputate his own arm in order to escape.
The film is not just the story of how Ralston survives, but of how he changes from being someone who believed he was invincible - he hadn't even told anyone where he was going - to someone who has to confront his own mortality in a terrible way. The title refers not to the length of his ordeal, but to the time he takes to come to terms with what he must do.
Who's in 127 Hours?
Spiderman actor James Franco plays Aron Ralston, who is the film's only main character. It also stars Kate Mara and Amber Tamblyn.
Where's 127 Hours set?
Despite being a British film, it is shot in Utah, where the real life events took place. The US state is known for its diverse landscape, which ranges from arid deserts to mountain valleys and pine forests, and its year-round outdoor activities. Utah's ski resorts are world-renowned - Salt Lake City hosted the Winter Olympics in 2002, and the state's slogan is The Greatest Snow on Earth.
What awards has 127 Hours won?
In 2011 the film was nominated for six Oscars, including best picture, best actor and best adapted screenplay, eight BAFTAs and three Golden Globes. It has won several other awards, including Film of the Year from the American Film Institute and New York Film Critics Online's Best Actor award for James Franco.
What the reviews say about 127 Hours
Film site Rotten Tomatoes said: "As gut-wrenching as it is inspirational, 127 Hours unites one of Danny Boyle's most beautifully exuberant directorial efforts with a terrific performance from James Franco." Richard Roeper, from the Chicago Sun Times, called the film one of the best of the decade, while the Guardian's Peter Bradshaw described it as "a tremendously crafted movie, with an overwhelmingly convincing performance from James Franco."