Synopsis
In this post, I’m going to summarize the screenplay along with its cinematic representation. “Everest” is a survival drama and disaster movie directed by Baltasar Kormákur, which was released in the year 2015. The movie is based on real-life stories of people who lost their lives in the Everest tragedy in 1996. It draws inspiration from a variety of sources such as Krakauer’s novel “Into Thin Air”. The film captures the events of the expedition which is composed of different individuals who met in the storm on Everest. Everest, a movie released in 2015, showed in a very dramatized manner the dependence and trust people have on their fellow climbers, the courage showed by their friends and relations on the way towards the Everest expedition, and very heartwarming determination to defend each other.
The commercial expedition group Adventure Consultants is based in New Zealand, where its leaders are preparing for the full-scale attempt on Everest. Besides that, the preparation for the documentary is in progress. Every year, Hall becomes more and more eager to reach the final summit and record every single moment.
Among Hall’s clients are Doug Hansen, a simple mailman who is trying for a second time after failing the previous year, and Beck Weathers, a Texan doctor who wants to finish the climb despite health issues. Another important person in the expedition is Yasuko Namba, a Japanese climber who wants to become the oldest woman to complete the Seven Summits.
Simultaneously, a rival expedition team led by Scott Fischer of Mountain Madness is also preparing for the summit. Unlike Hall, Fischer has a more relaxed style, emphasizing togetherness and adrenaline over rigid planning. Though the two teams agree to cooperate and share ropes to avoid traffic jams near the summit, a mix of logistical issues and unpredictable weather create dangerous complications.
The story is emotionally intense, starting with a gradual focus, describing the grueling climbs to various camps and the mental and physical demands associated with high-altitude mountaineering. The cinematography captures breathtaking views of the Himalayas, alongside the growing sense of peril.
On May 10, 1996, both teams start their summit push. Initial delays, backlog, equipment failures, and others result in a slow progression. Rob Hall waits for his colleague Doug Hansen, who is struggling in a race against time to reach the summit. He is exhausted but holds on to the faint hope of reaching the top. In the meantime, Scott Fischer, who is suffering from a combination of fatigue and altitude sickness, becomes separated from his team.
As the climbers reach their peak and start their downward trek, a sudden and vicious blizzard sweeps across the mountain, drastically reducing visibility and dropping temperatures to life threatening levels. Degraded visibility and the blizzard sever vital communication lines and isolate climbers. Some climbers become disoriented and fall. Others collapse from exhaustion and a lack of oxygen.
With Doug Hansen succumbing to the extreme conditions, Rob Hall becomes trapped near the summit. Hall, who remains in radio contact with his pregnant wife in New Zealand, refuses to leave even knowing the chances of his survival are dismally low. His chilling, calm, but heartbreaking final moments have become a film highlight.
Beck Weathers, who has also been left for dead in the blizzard, regains conciousness and miraculously stumbles camp, severely frostbitten but surprisingly alive. Others, like Yasuko Namba, perish just steps away from safety. Scott Fischer also succumbs to his deteriorating condition and dies on the mountain.
The Aftermath highlights the reactions of the world’s media and the public’s response to the catastrophe that has taken place. There were mixed responses to the media statement, and some even went to the extent of questioning the commercialization of Mount Everest and the risk Everest posed to the public with guided climbing.
Cast & Crew
Director:
Baltasar Kormákur
The Icelandic director earned his fame due to the fusion of human drama with action. Some of his works include 2 Guns and Contraband. With Everest, Kormakur takes a more grounded and emotionally charged perspective.
Writers:
William Nicholson and Simon Beaufoy
Nicholson, famous for gladiator, and Beaufoy who was known for his masterpiece Slumdog Millionaire, created a screenplay focusing more on character interplay and emotion, rather than over the top drama in Everest.
Main Cast:
Rob Hall: Jason Clarke
Rob Hall is on a climbing quest for which he has some expert guides ready and a whole lot of intuition on his side. Jason Clarke was able to deliver a tough yet touching display of a man who has to endure a lot of loss to save the lives of other people.
Jake Gyllenhaal: Scott Fischer
Scott Fischer is a risky person more popularly known for overstepping his limit which he paid for in the long run. Gyllenhaal gave his usual dose of charm and a bit more vigor to the character.
Josh Brolin: Beck Weathers
The tough and stubborn Texan climber who survived against the odds is brought to life by Brolin, and the character’s stubbornness makes for a crass yet strangely fun performance that Brolin excels in.
John Hawkes as Doug Hansen
Doug Hansen is a character shaped by struggles and dreams. Hawkes gives a blend of determination and humility to bring Doug Hansen to life. This approach makes Hansen’s ending all the more tragic.
Keira Knightley as Jan Arnold
Keira Knightley takes the role of Jan Hall, the radio-wife who Hall speaks to moments before he takes the call. Her telephonic performance radiates the emotional center of the movie.
Moreover, the movie showcases the operational camp parts of the expedition with the help of voiceover from the rest of the camp crew shown by Emily Watson and Sam Worthington.
IMDb Ratings & Critical Reception
Saw and read everything that critics put their hands on with cinemotography being the priority? Yes. Critics also pointed out the underdeveloped characters, stitching the pieces from all of the actors that don’t have a space for the storyline.
Critical Analysis:
Visual Realism:
Moreover, the sound effects help in strengthening the realism. Balaye high above ground an absolute silence. Along with high wind and agressive avalanches is felt in a haunting detail that gives a sense of absolute wilderness and danger.
Human Drama over Action: This film doesn’t go for typical action bravado. Instead, it seeks an emotionally grounded tone. The tension stems from the unfiltered terror of being ensconced in an unrelenting environment.
Critiques: Some reviewers felt the film was overpopulated, making it hard to gain a full connection with the characters. In the film, one of the ethical controversies about climbing for profit was only briefly mentioned, which left some audience members wanting it to go further.
Conclusion
Visually, as, well, the film was a powerful one. It was able to trigger feelings in people about one of the most saddening modern tragedies in mountaineering. Everest possessed the realism needed in a film that should stand out as a survival thriller. It becomes a film that reflects on human ambition and the cost of adventure.
Everest respects the climbers who faced the mountain, both the living and the dead. Instead of over the top heroics, it chooses to highlights the emotion and psychological effects. It focuses on the people. The climbers’ bravery, mistakes, and humanity is treated with dignity. The film becomes a drama and a touching memorial at the same time.
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