Meru, a U.S./India co-production is the next Williams Lake Film Club feature to be shown Tuesday, Feb. 9 in the Gibraltar Room.
The 87-minute documentary was filmed in the Himalaya mountains of India by climbers and directors Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi.
The language is English.
Chin works for National Geographic and has climbed Mount Everest a couple of times, even skied down parts of it once to film another group.
First of all I would like to say, Meru is simply awesome.
It tells the story of three elite climbers as they attempt to reach the 21,000-foot summit of the Shark’s Fin on Mount Meru.
This peak has seen more failed attempts over the past 30 years than any other ascent in the Himalaya mountains and is one of the most coveted prizes in the high-stakes game of big-wall climbing.
It may not be a giant mountain in Himalayan terms, but real climbers know that to ascend the central peak by way of the Shark’s Fin is far more challenging than Everest, involving several days on a sheer rock face in subzero temperatures.
This is no place for Sherpas.
What you bring, you carry.
When all-star climbing team Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin and Renan Ozturk attempted it in 2008, a snowstorm trapped them in their tent, hanging by ropes off the side of the cliff for three nights and four days.
Their rations ran out and they were forced to turn back within 100 metres of the summit.
Chin, a professional cameraman, vowed never to come back again. But, that was then.
With expert insight from writer Jon Krakauer and interviews with the climbers and their loved ones, Meru does not just put us on the mountain and in these men’s boots, but into their heads and hearts as well.
With absolutely stunning cinematography by the climbers themselves, Meru is an up-close and personal story of friendship, sacrifice, hope, passion, and obsession. And it is just so incredibly beautiful!
Among other awards, Meru won the audience award at last year’s Sundance Film Festival and now it has been shortlisted for this year’s Oscars.
Meru only had a limited theatre run, but it quickly proved to be a runaway success.
As after each film we will have our little social with refreshments. I am actually pondering to bake some sauerkraut chocolate cake bites.
Have you ever tried such a thing? I have not either, but it sure is tempting.
Hope to say hello to you next Tuesday, Back doors to the Gibraltar Room open at 6:30 p.m. and the film starts at 7 p.m.
Admission is $10 regular, $8 for film club members and $6 for seniors (65+) and students, TRU and high school.
