Summiting the 14 peaks on the planet that are over 8000 meters is perhaps the most extraordinary feat in mountaineering. Reinhold Messner, the first person to complete this accomplishment, took over a decade to do so.
Then a few years ago, a Nepalese climber named Nimsdai Purja announced his plan to scale the 14 peaks in 7 months, in just one calendar year, navigating the various weather cycles and climbing seasons that dictate when an expedition can make a climb. Everyone in the mountaineering world scoffed and said Purja was crazy. Just setting up the logistics for such an attempt would be almost impossible, let alone completing the actual climbing, they all said.
The Netflix documentary, 14 Peaks, chronicles Purja's daring effort to pull this off. After a few minutes of watching, the viewer is tempted to reach the conclusion that Purja is actually crazy and that the mission can't be accomplished. But as the documentary moves forward, we realize that if a person displays extreme determination, precision organization, and assembles a dream team, then they have a chance to accomplish their goals.
14 Peaks has all of what one would expect of a Himalayan mountaineering documentary: breathtaking scenery, danger and near death (and sadly, real death) experiences, with disaster constantly lurking in the shadows. What separates this documentary from others is the cultural perspective it presents. We see the selfish Western climbers on the various mountains, some even indifferent to fellow climbers who are dying right beside them, they are so fixed on reaching the summit and their own personal goals. Purja's all-Sherpa team, on the other hand, though they are arguably attempting the most difficult task in the history of mountaineering, they do not lose their humanity or ethical compass during their adventure as we watch them endanger their own mission in order to help others. We also get a clear sense of how the Nepalese Sherpa have been exploited and mistreated by Western climbers and how they have never received the full credit for their essential role, because without Sherpas, Western successes in the Himalayas might not have ever occurred.
I highly recommend this movie as it is an exciting and inspirational tribute to what humans can accomplish if they set out to do something. I only wish 14 Peaks would have been a bit longer as a few of the peaks that were summited received less than a minute of film time. I would have liked much more detail of some of the adventures and a greater sense of the fullness of what Purja and his team were trying to accomplish.
Also, lots of precious screen time was devoted to Purja's relationship to his mother and how she had inspired him over the years. Yes, that was a nice human interest angle, but I think it overshadowed the plot and the ongoing action a bit too much at times, but I think some viewers might disagree with my lack of sentimentality.
Nevertheless, 14 Peaks is a great film that might inspire you take on some the personal peaks that you face, as it could challenge you to add some work and determination to your own life. It's fast-paced and also considers some cultural questions worth noting.
Rating: *** 1/2 (out of *****) Not perfect, but well worth your time even if mountain climbing isn't your thing.
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