THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US
US, 2017, 112 minutes, Colour.
Idris Elba, Kate Winslet, Beau Bridges, Dermot Mulroney, Linda Sorenson.
Directed by Hany Abu- Assad.
For a great deal of this film, Kate Winslet, as Alex a photojournalist, has a brace on her leg and limps, finding it difficult to walk, moving very slowly. Idris Elba as Ben, a surgeon, suddenly find his leg caught in an animal trap in the woods. This could be taken as rather symbolic of the whole film and its dynamic, much of the movement by plodding, the effect of lameness.
The intentions of the film are very worthy and it is directed by celebrated Palestinian director, Hany Abu- Assad whose films, Paradise Now, Omar and The Idol have been quite striking. The lead actors have a strong screen presence and work well together, even when they are clashing. It is interesting to see Idris Elba in such a sympathetic role, not an action star.
The film opens at an airport in Idaho during January, all flights being cancelled because of an oncoming storm. Ben has to get to New York to conduct surgery, Alex to go to her wedding. On an impulse, she hires the pilot of a small plane (Beau Bridges) and they set out, initially calm, she taking photographs, the pilot telling stories about his action in Vietnam, and his big Labrador on the plane as company.
They crash, confined at first to the shell of the plane, which, of course, confines the action a great deal, slowing it down. The question is raised whether they should stay at the crash site to be found or to move on, Ben first going to survey from a height what the landscape is like, high snowy mountains (filmed in British Columbia standing in for the American Rockies), deep valleys. Fortunately, Ben being a doctor is able to attend to Alex as well as to the dog, especially after a cougar attacks but is shot with a flare (providing food for some days, snow always being available for water).
Alex is very strong minded and can’t stay in the one spot. Ben eventually follows, with their wisely trying to descend and reach the tree line. As has been said, they have to plod, as does the dynamic of the film, even though they are moving towards safety. There are caves, and firewood available for warmth, the dog hunting, the danger of ice pools.
While initially the two fight, each of them mellows in terms of dependence and of being able to survive. Ultimately, this raises a situation not just of dependence but of sexual dependence and emotion.
While the film does show the relationship rather romantically, despite difficulties, it does spend some time more soberly in the aftermath of the journey, reflecting on how both Alex and Ben have been affected by the situation, wondering whether the relationship was just something unreal on the mountain or whether there was something more.
To that extent, the latter part of the film is rather romanticised and some of the dialogue leads to a touch of cynicism about romance. But, the film’s heart (and there are discussions about whether the heart is the source of emotion or just a muscle) is in the right place.
1. A film about endurance and love? The title? The physical mountains? The barriers between Ben and Alex?
2. The airport setting, the crowds, the delays, the small plane, the flight, the mountains, the crash, the beauty and isolation, the danger, peaks and valleys, the treeline, the waterfalls, the house, the logging town? The aftermath, London and New York? The musical score?
3. The situation, January, the weather, snow and storms, Idaho? Ben wanting to get to Colorado for his surgery? Alex for her wedding? The queues, the enquiries? The small plane, Walter, the journey, Alex and photography, their talk, the presence of the dog, Walter and his stories about flights in Vietnam? The radio contact, the stroke, his death, the crash?
4. Ben, the survival, his wounds, the dog? Alex unconscious, the injuries to her leg? His making the splint? The situation, the SOS, the flare, the planes flying over, later finding the tail, the alarm smashed? No contact for the phone? Food, water and snow, warmth?
5. The two personalities, age and experience? The doctor, reticent about his wife, Alex listening to his phone? The later revelation about her death and farewell? Alex and her photography, the different missions, journalism, strong and determined? The plan to marry Mark? The phone call from the airport?
6. Ben, being urged by Alex to survey the area, climbing, sliding down, not falling over the cliff? Alex, the attack of the cougar, shooting it with the flare? The dog wounded? But enough meat for 10 days?
7. The decision whether to stay or to go? Alex and her determination, arguing with Ben? Strong-willed? Her going, trudging through the snow with the dog? Ben following, finding the tail, catching up?
8. Going down, the hard walk, slow, the snow, the dog, chasing the rabbit but not catching it? Shelter in the cave? Going down to the treeline? The reflection of the sun in the window? The huge waterfall, having to go round it? Ben and his finding the hut, Alex falling into the water, Ben smashing the ice, rescuing her? His medical attention, the risks with the syringe, her coming round?
9. The shelter, warmth, the cans of soup? Emotions, dependence, each having enabled the other to survive, love, the sexual encounter, the consequences? And Alex taking
the photos – after refusing to take Ben’s photo and telling the story of the little girl in Africa who died after the photo?
10. Seeing the town, Ben and his leg caught in the trap? Alex, going to the town, hailing down the truck? Hospital, injuries, Mark present, the recovery? Ben and the injuries to his hands?
11. Ben, in London, with the dog, walking in the rain, hospital and consultations, not able to do surgery, ignoring Alex’s phone calls? His home, with the dog, receiving the photos?
12. Alex, the social, the publisher wanting her pictures, Mark as understanding, realising the situation? Ben contacting her?
13. Going to New York, the meeting, the restaurant, talk, discussions, the reality on the mountain, what was real, survival and their mutual dependence, issues of heart, the heart as just a muscle, going the separate ways, the realisation, turning around, the embrace and the sudden cut to the ending?
