This is great. Four-and-a-half stars. First, Pál Takáts (pronounced Takatch) is very engaging on-screen. He dominates the film, leaving his co-star, friend and acro partner Gábor Kézi somewhat in the shade. He reveals himself as someone who wears his heart on his sleeve – “I cried of course” he says when Gábor is helicoptered off the mountain, one of three times he is movedto tears in the movie – and, although clearly highly ambitious, he loves what he is doing. And that makes for a hugely enjoyable film.

Refreshingly, it doesn’t feature any monologues about life lessons or living in the moment – it simply revels in the sheer fun of it all. And rather than just being a collection of whacky stunts it stands alongside the classic Never Ending Thermal as an engaging, intelligent, well shot film that tells a proper story. It feels honest, and even has a good soundtrack. It’s also educational and informative. Not in a ‘now weightshift left’ way, although there is a bit of that in the extras (and it’s well done), but in a historical and contextual way. It frames the whole acro scene, from its roots in the early 1990s, to today, where pilots like Pál and Gábor can pick up the sport and within a few years be on the podium. It explains where the sport has come from, talksto the people who developed it, touches on acro’s slow, dangerous, two decades of development, and presents it as an accessible standalone discipline.

All the while showcasing some stunning flying in beautiful places. Along the way we get to meet the pioneers. Richard Gallon, a founder member of the SAT team, welcomes the future and its “hundreds and hundreds” of new acro pilots. And the late Mathias Roten explains how the scene has changed from one of exploration to a “new generation” of relative unknowns searching for perfection. Pál and Gábor are part of this new generation. And one of the most interesting parts of the film comes when you see the pioneering Rodriguez brothers, who start as mentors, suddenly realise it. The relationship changes, the sporting rivalry comes through, and there is even the hint of bad blood.

The film starts with Pál and Gábor in Budapest, where they grew up and learned to fly. It then follows them on a journey, using four years’ worthof footage – 2005 to 2008 – to tell the story of how they “got good quick”. Several long summers at Organya are involved. Along the way we see some excellent acro footage, and learn a lot. There are over 20 acro manoeuvres and all stem from three basics, explainsPál, who then talks us through them as he spins around the sky. “I’m going to perform the InfinityTumbling. I’m going to swing above the centre of the glider many times.”We also see Pál and Gábor grow up. Pál’s hair is the main indicator of this, and the slow emergence of a typical dready-haired acro dude from a closecropped schoolboy is a fun, although minor, subplot. More seriously, the movie is dedicated to Mathias Roten, who died in a speed flying accidentlast year. His presence is felt throughout the movie, and he features heavily. “I was crying for a long time after that,” says Pál, whose face yet again gives everything away.There are three accidents in the film. First Pál and Mathias collide during a practice syncro routine in Organya. The in-flight footage is incredible, as is Pál’s running commentary: The pair are very close,spiralling down freestyle, just inventing the dance as they go. “One more!” shouts Pál, loving it. “I start again the helicopter … and he is coming to make a spiral around me … come on! Kiss me! Yeeaaass!”

The gliders are within inches of each other. We see Pál grin. The next minute they fully collide. There is ten seconds of confusion featuring lines and wind noise, then a Rogallo blooms and we see his main canopy in two pieces. “We crash into each other man!” he says excitedly, hauling in line. “I’m ok, I’m ok!” he shoutsto Mathias as he lands. Then to himself mutters, “We are alive, man.” And so he is. Later he breaks his ankle and in between Gábor breaks his back. These accidents only strengthen the pair’s bond, theysay. For some reason I didn’t swallow that: Pál seems to have more ambition, more passion, and given his (very good) Red Bull X-Alps performance this year now a much higher profile. He’s also winning solo events as an acro pilot.There is a story unfolding here. And that’s what makes this excellent movie even better: there’s obviously got to be a sequel.

Ed Ewing

Climb rate: **** and a half

Speed bar: Pál and Gábor go searching for

acro stardom and get it. In English

with French, German, Spanish and

Hungarian subtitles. Fifty minutes, six

DVD extras, €25.95,

www.xcshop.com