Gipfel der Götter

What a movie! For me, this is one of the best I've watched this year.

This French animation is based on a Japanese manga of the same name, set in Nepal. Content like this makes you feel "Huh! Small World!" BTW, parts of the story are inspired from true events from 1924.

I went into the movie without knowing anything about it, so I'll spare the plot but the story - gripping, visuals-stunning, sound design-phenomenal, editing-incredible!

The "bUt aNImATiOn iS fOr kiDs" gang should watch this. While kids would surely enjoy this movie, but the way this poetic story of obsession/determination is told while balancing excitement, suspense and sadness - grownups would appreciate this because it's different from anything that you'd usually watch, regardless of if you watch animation or not.

Would highly recommend that you watch this, especially given the short runtime of only around 90 mins.

The Summit of the Gods: French animated film based on a Japanese Manga comic. About mountaineering and Everest in particular. A photo-journalist encounters a Japanese climber who has been missing for years, he seems to have Mallory's camera. This could answer the question: did Mallory and Irvine reach the summit of Mount Everest? The climber has a chequered past, tragedies as well as triumphs. After the death of a young climber he had a breakdown. A quest ensues, not just for the camera as the photographer realises that he has to accompany the climber on his attempt to climb Everest. A tale of derring-do and an exploration of what motivates people to risk their lives in pursuit of a dream. The animation makes the terror of avalanches, slips and hanging from a rope come to life but also the triumphs of achieving an objective. The story of Mallory and Irvine is intertwined with a fictional tale of obsession to good effect. Directed & co-written by Patrick Imbert. On Netflix. 7.5/10.

A beautifully intricate and simple story about taking that step forward.

This film is going to have a short review. A very beautiful piece of art that I recommend everyone to see. A simple story with realistic consequences and surreal sequences. It shows both the danger of climbing and the unexplainable passion behind the journey to the top. Such a magnificent tale.

...in every way. Excellent story, breathtaking visuals, superb sounds and score. Easily the best film in 2021 though it hasn't been a real competition with a bunch of crap movies released in this year. Sometimes I couldn't believe it was an animation. The story is so heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. A hidden gem on Netflix, absolutely worth watching it.

This excellent watch lets you in on the minds and hearts of the mountain-climbers. I'm no mountain climber, but watching Habu Joji's journey made me realise -

Mountain climbing is one of the few places that demands you to live-in-the-moment. One miss and you risk your life. In that sense, it is one of the few places where the thrill of living-on-the-edge intersects with truly living-in-the-now.

And those who've experienced this first-hand find any other way to live too dull to be considered "living". And at that point, it's either "living" climbing-mountains and taking risks or not living. And, when you look at things from this perspective, all the risk mountain climbers take starts to makes sense..