North Face (2008)

Well, this is one exhausting, harrowing, amazing experience on film. Even the actors, acting and not actually fighting for their lives, look like they've been through hell. The filming holds back nothing on the horror of being caught in a storm on the infamous North Face of the Eiger, in the Alps. These very talented, likable chaps (even though Germans just before WWII, yes),are up against it big time. And the movie makes the most of it.

It's a simple story, and a simple structure, contrasting the comfortable press corps down below with their fireplaces and wine, against the men on the cliff, night and day. A woman and a love story are a part of it as we go, but this is more a love/hate story of men against each other, against themselves, and against the mountain, weather systems included.

It's a relief to see a movie without heroes. There is a lot of heroism, for sure, and admirable human behavior up and down. But none of the throbbing music as one or the other of the men performs an impossible feat. This is about a real life and death confrontation, and breakdown, and impossibility. Well done, well done. High frustrating and nerve wracking to watch, but well done.

It's 1936. The Eiger North Face is last unconquered challenge in the Alps. The Nazi propaganda machine wants it defeated by German climbers before the upcoming Olympics. Luise Fellner is a secretary working in a Berlin newspaper. She tells her bosses that she knows men who could do the climb. She, Andi Hinterstoisser and Toni Kurz are childhood friends. Hinterstoisser is eager to try anything. Kurz is more level-headed and refuses to do the climb. Luise goes along with her boss Henry Arau anyways to cover two Austrians making the ascend. Kurz relents and the two friends make the attempt.

The relationship between Hinterstoisser and Kurz is great. The cynical sexist reporters are great. The romantic element isn't quite as compelling. I almost wish that part gets less attention after the climb starts although it's compelling to see the juxtaposition between the comfortable resort and the harsh climb. The climb up is harrowing. It treats mountain climbing seriously where rock falls causes real injuries. This doesn't feel fake except for the girlfriend.

"Nordwand" is a German 2-hour film from 7 years ago. It takes place during the early years of the Nazi reign and basically shows us how a group of mountain climbers try to master a truly touch challenge. The (co-)writer and director here is Philipp Stölzl and I have seen some of his works. I liked "Goethe!" and I loved "The Physician", so I had some hopes for "Nordwand" as well. Unfortunately, they were not fulfilled. I am generally not the biggest fan of Benno Fürmann, but he was okay here. the acting is good in general and there are more famous names in here, such as Florian Lukas, Ulrich Tukur, Georg Friedrich, Martin Brambach (personal favorite) and, of course, Johanna Wokalek, who sort of plays the only significant female character in the film and also gives the best performance I guess. Quite a pity that, in recent years, she hardly acted in films.

Anyway, the reason why I did not really enjoy this film was that adventure movies are not exactly my cup of tea. I liked the film for the historic references in the first half and it would have been great if this could have been a political movie and not entirely focused on the expedition. The more history, the better for me. The less climbing scenes, the better as well. Unfortunately, pretty much the entire second half/hour takes place in the Alps. The film is sometimes fairly graphic in terms of injuries and drama, especially towards the ending. People who like this kind of films more than I do and also enjoyed the recent Hollywood film "Everest" can check this out, but everybody else is not really missing much. Not recommended.