EVEREST

US, 2015, 121 minutes, Colour.
Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, Emily Watson, Jake Gylenhaal, John Hawkes, Ciaran Knightley, Martin Henderson, Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Debicki, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Ingvar Eggert Baltasarsson.
Directed by Baltazar Komakur.

One of the questions this film raises is, of course, why would people want to put themselves in such danger and such physical exertion, demands on mental stability, to climb Mount Everest. The screenplay does mention the obvious ones, because it’s there, and because someone can. But that is not enough to explain the exertions of Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing in 1953, the success of individuals and groups who have worked their way to the summit, and the guided climbs of the 1990s – of which this true story is one.

Sources for the film include a book by journalist John Krakauer, Into Thin Area, which became a television film in 1997, Into Thin Air: Death on Everest. Krakauer himself did reach the top as he observed those were climbing, those were guiding, those who were the supports both on the mountain and at base camp. Another source is by Beck Weathers, Left for Dead: My Journey Home from Everest. Preparatory filming was done in the Himalayas some years before production and photography in the Alps supplied for snow, ice and avalanche sequences.

Interestingly, the director, Baltazar Kormakur, is a native of Iceland.

Rob Hall, a New Zealander, had a company in the 1990s which arranged for clients to go to the summit. Here, he is played by Jason Clarke, a sympathetic guide, concerned about individuals and groups going up the mountain, in contact with his pregnant wife (Keira Knightley with a Kiwi accent). There are some glimpses of his American counterpart, Scott Fischer, played by Jake Gylenhaal, rather devil-may-care climber, with his support team who shunned the use of oxygen high up.

The audience leaves New Zealand with Hall and with Helen Winton, the person in charge for the base camp, played by Emily Watson, something of a strange experience hearing her also speaking with the New Zealand accent. She is the mother-figure at base camp, sympathetic but also resourceful.

Then the audience arrives in Nepal with the group, travels through the countryside, reaches the Himalayas, goes across gorges on precipitous bridges, arrives at base camp, where they relax, prepare psychologically and physically, with the help of the company doctor, Elizabeth Debicki.

Hall’s group includes a Texan, Beck Weathers, played by Josh Brolin, seemingly full of confidence, but prone to depression which disappears when he is climbing mountains. He keeps in touch with his wife (Robin Wright) and his children back home. Then there is Doug (John Hawkes), a postman who has made several attempts and has promised the children in his home town that he, just an ordinary man, will plant a flag on the summit. There is a Japanese climber, a woman who has succeeded on six challenging peaks, Everest being her seventh. Amongst the support group are Sam Worthington and Martin Henderson.

The film presents the Himalayas in all their beauty, their ruggedness, not underestimating in any way the physical and psychological challenge, the realities of some people dropping out, unable to continue, and some reaching the top, almost exhausted, planting a flag, being photographed, a lifetime achievement no matter what happens afterwards.

Perhaps there are too many characters to deal with within the running time, and the film spreads itself amongst all, But, the focus is on Hall, Fischer, Weathers and Doug, Helen and the support team.

Maybe there are a couple in the audience who would be so moved by watching this vigorous film that they would opt for a trip to Everest – but most of us will appreciate seeing this visualising of the story, its achievement as well is its tragedy, will be quite willing to stay home.

1. The film based on a true story? The background of the history of the claiming of Everest, the different attempts, Edmund Hillary and Tensing in the 1950s, their achievement, the increase of climbers over the decades, greater ease and skills, groups going to Everest, the leaders, by the mid 1990s the crowds, the blizzard in 1996, the deaths and achievements?

2. The issue of motivation of climbing Everest, because it is there, because people can, the importance of an extreme challenge? Self-exploration, ordinary people trying to do something extraordinary, climbing mountains as a means of moving away from depression? The audience watching the portrayal of the climbs, wanting to go – and not wanting to go?

3. The experience of watching the film, how persuasive in presenting the climbing of Everest, in persuading people not to go or warning them of the great difficulties? The difference between exhilaration and the difficulties, the pain and those who had to return without getting to the top?

4. The director, his background from Iceland? The International cast?

5. Filming in Nepal, in the Alps? The beauty of the vistas, the mountains, the cliffs, the snow, the avalanches, the storms? Fine weather, the sun, clouds? The editing, the special effects and their being meshed with realistic photography? The helicopter photography?

6. The New Zealand background of some of the characters, Rob Hall and his company, his good record with taking people to the top, his capacity for endurance and hardship, amicable, concerned? Jan, her pregnancy, leaving her behind, the phone calls throughout the film, especially at the end and her trying to boost his morale? Helen, the organisation, the doctor and her role? His associates, Guy and Harry? The leaving of New Zealand, the arrival in Nepal, the explanations to the group, travelling by bus, going higher, to the base camp, the rope bridges, the different stages, the nature of preparation, physical, psychological? The necessities for the clients, the plan, the role of the Sherpas, the crew, ropes, the stores of oxygen?

7. Scott Fisher, his different approach, American, happy go lucky, a relaxed character, with his crew, their not relying on oxygen, his main European assistant, tough, helping in the rescues, achieving? His own difficulties and gastric problems, his friendship with Rob, the discussions about helping each other, the agreement? His own personal achievement, going up and down the mountain to help? His death? Harry, member of the group, his help, stranded and dying? Rob, in the snow, the fall? Tough, the search, no oxygen?

8. John Krakauer, the journalist, his articles, the invitation to go, his participation, the story, his achievement, snow blind, the descent, his trying to help? His later book?

9. Beck, his climbing mountains, the Texan, suffering from depression, freed from it on the mountains? His marriage to Peach, his children? His attitude, outgoing American, wanting to achieve? The phone calls, the support of his wife? His collapse, difficulties with his eyes, having to stop, freezing, yet not dying, his return, sending in the helicopter, the difficulties of the manoeuvres, the thin air? His being reunited with his family?

10. Doug, the various attempts, his work as a postman, seeing himself as ordinary, the children at the school? His health, the doctor’s concern, going up, his collapse, the need for oxygen, pleading with Rob to go to the top, his finally getting there, the flag, the photo, the difficulties of going down, slow, his collapse, the lack of oxygen, his letting go and fall into his death?

11. The Japanese woman, having conquered six peaks, Everest as the seventh, her contribution to the group – and the pathos of her death?

12. The South African climbers, the leaders, wanting a certain day to get to the top, hostile attitude towards Rob?

13. Communications, Helen, the mother of the group, her work at the base, sense of community? Anxiety at the situations, the phone calls, phoning Peach, phoning Jan, connecting Jan to Rob and her urging him on?

14. Rob, stranded on the mountain, trying to keep attentive, his talking with Jan, and the sad goodbyes?

15. The film as a drama, as a record, the climbers - sources of articles and books? The impact in the 1990s, the influence on the subsequent attempts for people to climb the peak?

16. The final photos of the characters, tribute to them – and the picture of Rob Hall’s daughter, Sarah, born just after his death?

17. The significance of human achievement – and risks?