Directed by Philipp Stoelzl
The North Face of the Eiger is a legendary 1800-meter-high wall of stone and ice that crumbles easily and is subject to sudden massive changes of weather. In the summer of 1936, mountain climbers from all over Europe wanted to be the first to climb the notorious peak even though it had claimed many lives. They were responding to the Nazi propaganda of the time that held up the conquering of the mountain as a heroic deed. They were young men with few prospects in life who set off on their bikes to make the impossible possible. Two of these men were ace climbers from Germany, Toni Kurz (Benno Fuemann) and Andi Hinterstoisser (Flroian Lukas).
The film is based on a true story and was shot under extreme conditions. It is nothing like Hollywood’s Cliffhanger or Vertical Limit where many sequences look like they were shot in the studio. More like the documentary-feature Touching The Void, the audience is placed alongside these pioneers and their simple equipment as they struggle to survive on the mountain. As the Germans set off, they are closely followed by the two Austrians, and observed through binoculars and telescopes from the terrace of the Grand Hotel at the foot of the Eiger. When misfortunes hit the climbers, they decide to turn back and the encounter becomes a dramatic struggle for survival.
There’s also a love interest in the form of journalist Luise (Johanna Wokalek) who has come to report on the first ascent and realises she still has feelings for her childhood sweetheart Toni. When everyone gives up hope, Luise decides to go help the man she loves as everyone sits on the edge of their seats hoping she will succeed. North Face is subtitled and screening at Somerville (UWA) 15-21 February and Joondalup Pines 22-28 February.
Lezly Herbert
