About the movie Crackoholic

On Sweden's west coast, in the northern part of the county of Bohuslän, lies Europe's best kept climbing secret. The area is scattered with granite cliffs offering world class trad climbing. Soaring cracks, square cut dihedrals, knife sharp arêtes and seemingly blank faces, you'll find anything you could ever ask for. The climbing in Bohuslän also holds a rich history, with an interesting and passionate core of local activists. Crackoholic tells the full story about this climber's paradise and portrays these granite afficionados, these Crackoholics. We meet the climbers who have set their mark on the Bohuslän granite throughout the years. From the early days of EBs, white pants and bandanas in the mid-70's, to today's athletes who are pushing the standards of trad climbing. What is it that these climbers search for on the granite faces of Bohuslän? What is it that these climbers search for on the granite faces of Bohuslän? Why is naturally protected climbing so important to these individuals? And why do some of them seek out what most climbers consider unnecessary risks?  How do you stay focused when fear is trying to take control over your mind, and the likely consequence of a mistake is serious injury or even death?



Crackoholic was born late 2005 when we (Mikael Widerberg and Jonas Paulsson) worked together during a film production. Mikael was shooting a climbing movie in Stockholm and Jonas was called in to shoot stills. Shortly after we discussed the possibility to produce a film together. Quite soon we agreed that if there is any climbing area in Sweden worth making a movie in then it's Bohulän, on Sweden's west coast. The climbing in Bohuslän is of world class quality and there is a group of passionate climbers who spend as much time as possible in this granite paradise. We wanted to portray these climbers and see what climbing means to them.