Mountain

With the Australian Chamber Orchestra doing the music, and Willem Dafoe doing the narration, Mountains (2017) is a delight to the eye and ear. The director embarks us in a cinematic trance, using an incredible essay that depicts the relationship between nature and human perseverance. Portrayed as an eternal fight, this relationship seems to go into extremes at times. A must watch film for any mountain lover.

The 2017 film Mountain is a collaborative film between Australian Director Jennifer Peedom and the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

Director, Jennifer Peedom has really brought a crystal ball experience as a well-informed citizen of the world to the table, showing unearthly Mountains from around the globe to explore. Freakish opening visuals have been guided in by Rene Ozturk, narration by a Willem Dafoe and lastly a great music score to take refuge in by Richard Tognetti. It expertly touches on our consistently fragile and adventurous human nature. It's a perfect set up of creatives to entertain the viewer.

The music is a stand out element being utilized in sequences that balances electronic textures with other world like vocals that whisper in your ear, as you visually fall back to earth, alongside the daredevil mountain folk from an unscalable precipice. The Australian Chamber Orchestra deliver music by Vivaldi, and other classical composers perfectly supporting the epic montages with a fantastic hand.

There are great editing sequences throughout the film that let you experience intimately every the kinetic feeling of the insanity of jumping off a cliff, or tightrope walking between unfathomable red rock desert monsters. The sequences of the earth's seasonal rhythmic patterns pay tribute to our everyday emotions.

American Actor, Willem Dafoe voice deeply narrates the words of the British writer Robert Macfarlane like a timeless guide unpacking dialog that unlocks the mystery behind each mountain, whilst you wait quietly your fate.

Jen Peedom and the team have really taken us to the top of the form here. We are in her safe hands with plenty of poetic substance. Only advice is to go and see it.

Loved it!

A gifted director and cinematographer film their buddies free climbing El Capitan at Yosemite and the like, accompanied by the sublime arrangements of a world class chamber orchestra.

We were lucky enough to catch this in live performance after skiing for the day in the Australian Alps, and I honestly thought we'd be asleep within ten minutes.... but it was riveting. The director Jennifer Peedom brings a wonderfully poetic sensitivity to put the viewer in the picture, as if you are there... awestruck by the majesty of some of the world's wildest places, and pumped by the adrenaline of the risks of personal conquest.

William Dafoe presents a compelling narrative by travel writer Robert Macfarlane with a gravelly charm, and there, in the background, is Richard Tognetti and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, casting a spell with their beautiful harmonies...when you go and see this at the cinema, if you can bear it, close your eyes during Vivaldi's Four Seasons, and listen to Tognetti's violin soar....you won't be disappointed.

I've watched this several times and I'm in awe. The music, narration and visuals are breathtaking and outstanding. Editing was done brilliantly. Watch this in peace, with headphones and take a step into the allure of mountains.

Keep in mind when watching this movie that this is not your ordinary documentary about mountains and the movie also doesn't intend to be one. It's a philosophical journey among the high peaks on earth. The writing of Robert Macfarlane is one of the best on contemporary nature writing. The narration in this 'documentary' is therefore also based on his book 'Mountains in my mind'. I'm still convinced the book itself is a bit more exciting than this movie. If you like to read at least. Mountain tells a amazing philosophical story about the mountains and the humans who conquer and exploit them. It's a movie of not much words, but the words that are spoken will keep floating through your mind. The music made it even more enjoyable. Overall great movie, sometimes it misses the point of it all, but a must watch for anybody who enjoys the outdoors, the mountains or the writing of Macfarlane.