Meru

Description

With jaw-dropping cinematography of one of the most remote places on earth and direct access to the trials, drive and anxieties of its renowned mountain climbing subjects, the Sundance Audience Award winner Meru is a hybrid of gorgeous nature photography and riveting nonfictional storytelling. Titled after Mount Meru, a 21,000 ft. Himalayan peak that looms over the Ganges River and features the iconic “Shark’s Fin,” a massive sheer granite spine jutting out of the mountain’s face into sub-zero degreed thin-aired space, the film focuses on three world-class mountaineers as they take on the challenge of trying to become the first humans to ascend its peak. Conrad Anker, a veteran famous for his ascents in Patagonia, Antarctica and the Himalayas; Meru co-director Jimmy Chin, one of a handful of people who has climbed and skied Mount Everest, an athlete distinguished equally for his skills in photography, climbing and extreme sports; and Renan Ozturk, a relative newcomer in this group, but already internationally respected as a free climber and visual artist, teamed up in 2008 to reach the summit, but dishearteningly and dangerously failed with a mere 100 meters to go. Amidst personal and professional risks and anguish and unexpected narrative twists, the climbers make the daring decision to make one more attempt at one of the world’s most difficult climbs all the while expertly recording the event. —Sean Uyehara

Trailer

Film Details