14 x 8000: Aux sommets de l'impossible

A Nepalese shows it to the world. Anyone who goes mountaineering themselves can certainly assess the enormous performance of the man a bit better than a layman. Nevertheless, it should be said that great things have been achieved here. And the film shows that too. Perhaps he cannot match the emotional strength of Jimmy Chin with his film Free Solo, but it has an important message in it: Sherpas are the real heroes of the mountains, without them many of the western mountaineers would not be able to climb all the 8,000-meter peaks. Nirmal Purja, a little hero.

I love films about people taking on great challenges, but this is something else! Gurka Nimsdai Purja and his team of four scale the 14 highest mountains over 8000m, and in just 7 months. Spectacular in every way, it's quite a ride, and though there isn't much time to dwell on the details of climbing the individual mountains so it all feels a bit rushed at times (14 mountains in 110 mins) the film still gives overviews which are illustrated well. You wonder what they'll top this achievement with!!

"14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible" (2021 release; 101 min.) is a documentary about a Nepal mountaineer's seemingly impossible attempt to summit the earth's 14 mountains that are higher than 8000 meters, all in a single season (April through October, 2019). "Don't be afraid to dream big", reflects Nirmal Purja, the man at issue. We then go back in time as we learn of Purja's modest upbringing and his eventual joining of the UK Special Forces. Along the way we are also introduced to Purja's family, non more so than his now-ailing mother, who looms over the family's history. At this point we are 10 min into the documentary.

Couple of comments: this is the latest documentary from Torquil Jones. Here he is given unfettered access to the large-than-life, almost dare-devilish, dream of Pruja to do what nobody has ever tried before. To put in perspective, talking head Jimmy Chin reminds us that an expedition to summit one of these mountains typically takes 2 months. Here Purja is going to summit the world's 14 highest mountains in just over 6 months... Just crazy, right? Along the way, we are treated to some out of this world footage about these mountains.

"14 Peaks" started streaming on Netflix a week or so ago. I caught it the other night, and I was amazed how quickly time flew by as I was watching this. If you have any interest in extreme sports, or in simply an awe-inspiring slice of life in general, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

Utterly awe-inspiring and a reminder of how so many people are ignored and taken for granted.

Be like nimsdai and know you are magic, magnificent and capable of even more than you dared dream.

I loved this movie. It took so much determination, courage and focus on climbing all the higher mountains. This is absolutely a must watch movie/ documentary. The view from the summits is totally incredible.