SHERPA – A review

Man vs Mountain: The darkest day in the history of Mount Everest

One year before the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal, killing 9,000 people and destroying over 800,000 homes, director and filmmaker Jennifer Peedom followed the gripping journey into Mount Everest’s darkest day.

Sherpa packs a powerful punch. It’s hair-raising and visually mesmerising. I couldn’t take my eyes away from the screen, the stunning cinematography highlights the beauty and power of the mountain. This documentary is insightful, commanding and dramatic.

Peedom, the Australian director and filmmaker, provides the audience with a different point of view, telling the stories of the Sherpas, the Nepalese mountain guides, who risk their lives each climbing season to help international climbers conquer their dreams.

How much of a risk would you take to earn a living for your family? Every climbing season, the Sherpas put their lives into the hands of Mount Everest, commonly referred to throughout the film as Chomolungma, the Goddess Mother of the World. It follows the climbing season of 2014, which saw a tragic avalanche kill 16 Sherpas. To put this number into perspective, in over 65 years of Mount Everest being summited, the 18th of April, 2014 saw more Sherpas killed in one day than had ever been killed in an entire year.

Commentary from mountaineering writer Ed Douglas, expedition owner Russell Brice and the sons and daughters of Tenzing Norgay, the first Sherpa to summit Mount Everest, seamlessly weaves together stories and events of the previous climbing seasons.

Himalayan Experience expedition owner-operator Russell Brice puts it perfectly, “what is the moral justification for you to play what is essentially a game of Russian Roulette with someone’s life?” The documentary has a sharp focus on Sherpa leader, Phurba Tashi who is set to hike the summit of Chomolungma for a record 22nd time. His family, throughout the film question why Tashi climbs, “he loves climbing more than he loves his own family”.

Sherpas can earn up to $5,000 for a two-month expedition and while this seems very little, for the Sherpas and their families this is a great deal of money. “Everyone needs money,” Tashi explains, “so we’ll go on pretending that it’s safe”.

The dispute that lies at the heart of the documentary, is the Western climbers and their attitude toward the Sherpas. This is beautifully illustrated through breathtaking aerial footage of mountaineers stuck in a human traffic jam on the peak. With more than 600 people per year paying in excess of AUD $100,000 the Sherpas demand more from the Nepalese Government for better working conditions, better pay and better compensation for lives lost.

Ever so effortlessly, the incredibly talented composer, Antony Partos (think Animal Kingdom) and sound designer Sam Petty, intertwine the score with breathtaking shots of Chomolungma’s beauty. Every single hair on your body will stand on end. The duo, Partos and Petty won Best Original Music Score in a Documentary at the AACTA Awards 2015.

This dramatic documentary captures the magnificent beauty of Mount Everest and juxtaposes it with the ugly tensions between the Westerners, the expedition owners, the Nepalese Government and the Sherpas. Over 96-minutes, time-lapse photography effectively exposes the ever-changing landscape, highlighting the dangers for mountaineers.

Sherpa is breathtaking in all aspects of the documentary. It complements every aspect of the filmmaking industry, through beautiful cinematography, sound composition and directing whilst portraying human greed and the desire to conquer the world’s highest mountain.

Session times and dates for Sherpa can be found at Palace Electric Cinemas.

Director: Jennifer Peedom

Running Time: 1h 36m

By Alexandra Gillett