Tenzing Review

Tenzing premieres in select theaters October 9 and streams globally on Apple TV on October 16.

Tenzing is a moving drama about the real-life mountaineer Tenzing Norgay who, along with Edmund Hillary, were the first two people confirmed to have reached the summit of Mount Everest.

Historically, Hillary has received the lion’s share of attention for the epic deed, something that director Jennifer Peedom seeks to remedy by placing the Himalayan climber’s story at the forefront of her feature film debut. Tenzing largely succeeds at that although it must be noted that the film’s production notes state “creative license needed to be taken in certain areas to shape this complex history into a compelling cinematic narrative.”

Attempts to ascend Mount Everest have been the subject of many films and documentaries, some of which recount the tragedies and disasters that have befallen those who tried to reach the top. The mountain climbing movie genre itself presents a lot of tropes that are inescapable — treacherous terrain, vicious weather, near fatal plummets — as the perils of the grueling climb are obvious. And since the outcome here is a foregone conclusion, what makes Peedom’s film something special is its interwoven story about how Tenzing Norgay ended up there. As the film reveals, Tenzing had already faced many hardships and setbacks before he ever joined the 1953 British expedition.

The Luke Davies-scripted film depicts Tenzing’s boyhood as a yak herder growing up in the shadow of Mount Everest, which Tibetans call Chomolungma. His arduous youth eventually leads him from the Tibetan Plateau to Nepal (and later Darjeeling), where he’s left behind by his family. Wherever he goes, Tenzing finds himself an outsider and an underdog, constantly needing to prove himself and his value, whether it’s to the villagers for whom he toils in the Khumbu Valley or to the Brits assembling the climbing expedition.

Through it all, Tenzing endures thanks to his Buddhist faith and the love of his wife Dawa (the Adrian to his Rocky), whose untimely death breaks his heart but not his indomitable spirit. While the Brits and past European expeditions attempted to climb Everest for glory or national pride, Tenzing is on a spiritual quest to behold the face of Chomolungma, or what the Tibetans call the Mother Goddess of the World.Drawing on her past work on the documentaries Sherpa, Mountain, and River, director Peedom has crafted a suitably majestic-looking film but wisely makes sure to keep it about people and not just breathtaking vistas. The film benefits from its exploration of the cultural differences between the Brits and the Sherpas (a distinct ethnic culture from the people Tenzing hails from, and a source of tension and mistrust by some of the Sherpas he’s hired). This also helps forge the bond between Tenzing and Hillary, himself an outsider on the Expedition as the Brits enjoy pointing out that he’s a Kiwi. The two men recognize their similarities rather than just their differences, establishing a deep trust that proves vital to their success on the mountain.”Phuntsok and Hiddleston make for an endearing pair and they keep the viewer invested in their journey even when you know they won’t perish.“Tenzing is portrayed by three different actors: Samdrup Dorje Lama as a boy, Tenzin Dalha as a young man, and Genden Phuntsok as the older Tenzing. All three actors are great, but this is Phuntsok’s show. He imbues Tenzing with charm and pluck, and has fun chemistry with Tom Hiddleston’s Hillary (the Loki actor never attempts to try to one-up Phuntsok, fully understanding that he’s a supporting player here). Phuntsok and Hiddleston make for an endearing pair and they keep the viewer invested in their journey even when you know they won’t perish.Willem Dafoe and Caitríona Balfe have supporting roles, with Dafoe’s expedition leader Col. John Hunt as the stuffy imperial who may not be as much of a jerk as first expected. Balfe is always a glowing presence in any project, but there is precious little she has to do here as Jill Henderson, the secretary of the Himalayan Club who sees something special in Tenzing. Faring somewhat better (albeit in a fairly two-dimensional role) is Thinley Lhamo as Dawa, whose warmth and humor make it easy to believe why Tenzing loved her so much.While I’m a sucker for a good underdog movie, I concede that someone else might view Tenzing the movie as too slight or sentimental, that perhaps the story has Tenzing overcome his challenges too quickly or easily. All I can say I simply enjoyed being in Tenzing’s company and appreciated the light and hope the film emits in these dark times.Free Solo (2018)Everest (2015)127 Hours (2010)Touching the Void (2003)North Face (2008)Other — let us know in the comments.