The film opens in the 1920s with a young Tenzing working as a yak herder in Nepal, mesmerised by Mount Everest - known locally as Chomolungma. After early encounters with British climbers like George Mallory, he builds a reputation as an unparalleled high-altitude porter and climber. Years later, burdened by personal tragedy, including the loss of his wife and raising his daughters, Tenzing is hired for the 1953 British attempt on Everest by expedition leader Colonel John Hunt (portrayed by Willem Dafoe, who plays the stuck-up ex-British Army toff admirably). Facing class discrimination and imperial arrogance from the British establishment, Tenzing fights to be recognised as an equal member of the assault team rather than simply hired labour.
High on the mountain, amid mutiny among porters, severe hypoxia, frostbite and closing weather windows, Tenzing forms a deep bond with New Zealander Edmund Hillary (played with equal warmth and charm by Tom Hiddleston), a fellow outsider. Hillary is portrayed as being just as disconnected from the monied upper-class Brits as Tenzing. Together, they brave the summit push, reaching the highest point on Earth on 29 May 1953, as history tells us.
The film jumps in and out of Tenzing's personal life through flashbacks, telling the story of his youth, how he was abandoned by his family against their will, how he met his wife Dawa (played by Thinley Lhamo), and the prejudices he suffered as a non-native in Nepal. The film tracks his spirituality and deep-rooted inner connection with the mountain, but it's not done intrusively, nor does it detract from the flow of the story. Genden Phuntsok plays Tenzing Norgay outstandingly well in the lead, capturing Norgay's quiet dignity and physical resilience admirably.
It's a very well-delivered drama, a thriller at times, a compelling slice of history and has some sharp things to say about the British mentality of the day: prejudice, power, money and enforced class differences. It's deeply moving at times and brilliantly acted by the whole cast. It's certainly a step up from any other film I've seen depicting this tale of courage, and well worth a look. It has just landed on Apple TV+.
There are some details in the dramatisation that meander away from the truth, but the bones are all in place. For example, his first wife, Dawa Phuti, passed away in 1944 in Darjeeling. During the 1953 climb, Tenzing was actually married to his second wife, Ang Lahmu, who played a key diplomatic role in managing expedition relations - all of which was left out. However, the production was developed with direct oversight and approval from Tenzing's family, including his son, Tenzing Norbu, ensuring the film respected Sherpa spiritual tradition regarding Chomolungma as a sacred entity rather than just a peak to be conquered. Following the historical event, both Norgay and Hillary maintained for years that they reached the summit together as a team, though Hillary later clarified he stepped onto the apex a few paces ahead. The film, however, rightly focuses on their mutual dependency and joint triumph.
Director Jennifer Peedom brought decades of high-altitude documentary experience to the project. Principal photography took place on location in Nepal, including Kathmandu and the Khumbu/Everest region, before shifting to New Zealand for alpine visual sequences. Rather than relying solely on green-screen soundstages, the production shot real physical environments in extreme weather conditions, giving the mountain sequences palpable tension, severe wind, and true physical strain.
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