This documentary experience from BAFTA-nominated director Jennifer Peedom (Sherpa) explores our fascination with mountains. A stirring score is provided by the Australian Chamber Orchestra, while Willem Dafoe delivers a lyrical narration.
The film starts with immersive and poetic grace, featuring some stunning aerial photography of striking mountain vistas from around the world. There’s also some fascinating footage from the explorers of the early 1900s, whose pioneering spirit sparked a passion that would drive people to risk their lives in pursuit of the ultimate thrill.
Beyond their breath-taking beauty, mountains are framed as representations of humanity’s dreams and desires – monuments to our potential.
Yet, around the halfway point of its short 70-minute run time, the film begins to lose its way amidst the mist and snowdrifts. Despite some vague allusions to the spiritual connections many peoples around the world have with the mountains they inhabit, there’s no real insight or exploration of their relationship with them. Instead, we’re treated to a twenty-minute montage of people skiing, cycling, jumping and falling off the side of various mountains, which is basically Red Bull-sponsored YouTube content glossed over with classical music.
While clearly intended as more of a mood piece, the film’s lack of narrative drive, character connection or creative innovation leaves it meandering somewhat aimlessly around some attractive images, making for a disappointingly shallow experience.
Mountain is available now on Blu-ray, DVD and digital download through Dogwoof.
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