LFF 2012 - The Summit

Of all the featured documentaries laden across this year's schedule for the BFI London Film Festival, The Summit was one that instantly stood out from the crowd. The sheer thought of a film that tracks mountaineering and the individuals involved in such a dangerous and life-threatening past-time, appeared an interesting spectacle.

K2, also known as the Savage Mountain, is the focal point of what is an ultimately fascinating documentary surrounding a group of climbers who embarked on a mission in 2008 to conquer the mountain with the second-highest fatality rate in the world and return to their families unscathed.
Four years ago saw the most dangerous and dramatic event in all of mountaineering as 24 climbers from a variety of nations took the challenge to conquer K2 and reach the highest peak. Some having already failed previously, others striving for glory having never experienced the terrors of such an intimidating natural behemoth.

Central to The Summit comes a story of profound sadness and sacrifice as we witness the tragic demise of Irishman Ger McDonnell, just one of those eleven climbers who lost their lives over that fateful period in August. An approachable person and a favourite among the teams climbing, McDonnell lost his life after breaking the code in which all climbers agree to leave behind those who have fallen or are trapped. Instead of heading to safety himself, McDonnell aimed for courage as he set out to save those in trouble, only to fail at the hands of the deadly natural elements.

Charting McDonnell's path, as well as the men who accompanied him on the mission, The Summit documents a truly riveting and unmissable spectacle that will have you on the edge of your seat until its conclusion.

Morality, brotherhood and ultimately loss are the key elements that drive Nick Ryan's The Summit to the pinnacle of documentary making. His beautiful blend of interviews, reconstructed footage and breathtaking imagery provide what is not only one of the year's most well-balanced documentaries but one that tugs at the heart strings and offers a real representation of human nature in tough circumstances.

In the reconstruction element of the film, The Summit thrives through the cinematography of Robbie Ryan where we are witness to the spectacular views of the K2 landscapes; a beauty that soon turns to a beast of disastrous consequences. Introducing to us a plethora of varied shots covering the stunning snow-covered mountains, Ryan is quick to acknowledge such unmatched wonders and uses them to create a sense of wonderment before all flips on its head.

Beauty turned sour soon results in some rather harrowing reconstructive footage as we track the climbers from their initial planning of the expedition to reaching the pinnacle of K2, before disaster strikes as the descent proves that the Death Zone really has the name for a good reason. Merging superbly with the acting element of the film, the actual footage from the climbers and the several interviews with survivors and family members also play a key part in creating a film that truly immerses its audience.

Witnessing family members heartbroken when recounting the fateful days in which their loved ones perished or their lives hung in the balance really hits home and The Summit neatly and respectfully deals with each individual in a decent manner. Amongst the interviews, footage and real-life drama, one element of the film also looks to its audience to solve some conundrums raised.

In bringing forward the media's viewpoint of the tragic losses in 2008, The Summit cleverly grabs its audience not only emotively but also in raising certain questions regarding the huge event it has covered. In featuring the media's view that the climbers were in fact inexperienced and therefore heading to almost certain death, Nick Ryan's film also proves to become a thinking man's documentary as well as one to document a truly tragic event.

Poignant at times and forever gripping, The Summit is a remarkable documentary surrounding what was an exceptionally tragic event. The interviews will tug at the heart strings and the cinematography present the wow factor, but it is the human side of the film that wins most plaudits. Essentially a film of memories, The Summit features some incredibly engaging and intriguing real-life characters and whether you are a mountaineering enthusiast or not, is sure to have you on the edge of your seat throughout.