What Vertical Limit couldn’t achieve, Tenzing could. And what is the difference? In the former you’ve entertainment; whilst in the latter, you’ve realism and facts, which makes you experience the truth of Chomolungma i.e. Mother Mt. Everest. Remember, this is the year 1953. In 2026, it’s difficult to climb even your backyard mountain, if you live near the Countryside.
It is no joke also to leave two kids behind, alone, knowing he could not be able to make it back from Chomolungma! Imagine the Trust you would be having on the Teacher, on whose shoulders you’re leaving the responsibility of theirs’. Because Tenzing had climbed the Summit, that’s why he got respect and support. Otherwise, who would’ve supported Tenzing’s kids had he not been able to return, or, would’ve got injured due to hypoxia!
This movie also teaches you that Men Will Be Men. I’m not talking about those Practical Rational Pragmatic Men and their Consolidated Settled Lives with No Surprises! I’m talking about Men like Tenzing, Men like Edmond. And the biggest kudos goes to Tenzing’ Wife Dawa. Remarkable! Means, knowing why she came to Darjeeling, with just three aspirations of Tenzing that he wants to climb Chomolungma. She could’ve refused his love, could’ve settled with someone else, yet, an Exceptional Love, we don’t see much. Marvellous!
And we must also commend the Work of the Director. He could’ve directed the last 20 minutes with thrill and loud music, yet chose to keep it SUBTLE. This word I keep repeating in almost all my blogs. Because whatever one is Directing, sometimes, that should be SUBTLE. Like Obsession, a Subtle Horror Genre. John Wick, a Subtle Action Flick.
What one more lesson can be learnt from this flick is, giving a humble respect to the Nature won’t demean you. Rather, Nature is the only thing, whilst if you give respect or not, yet it gives you Plenty. It gave you Water, until Mineral Water companies came and put a price tag on that. It gave you fresh organic pure fruits and vegetables until Monsanto came and put an alteration in that due to rise in population. You’re digging the Himalayas, yet, it is the Himalayas that is still composed and calm and not reacting. Just like Oceans. Take this example: If someone do something to your own family house or to your nation or to your business or to your ideology, then you react like a Wall. YET, see the Composure of Nature. You just ask for help from it, and one can even touch the Skies. That’s why, no one would ever be able to escape to Mars because you think that Mars is your Grandpa’s inherited Property which can be conquered or terraformed or altered as per your own whims! Thus, everyone would live herein otherwise. Enjoy or not, upto you!
Tenzing is an experience and an emotional journey! The best thing is, the Director didn’t do quick editing to make it fast paced or embedding loud Music, and despite, was able to make it an engaging climb sans entertainment. Have you ever sipped the Coffee near a flowing river or heard just the waves of the sea, after dark, away from the traffic in the Coffee Shop? Tenzing is a movie not made for Theatres, but you can sit and sip and watch this on your Screen at any peaceful Coffee Shop, or, at Home, especially during Winters. I watched this movie right now at the Coffee Shop around 9 PM, and writing this Review post watching it.
All said and done, if you can’t include this for the mainstream movie Oscar nomination, atleast include this in the Documentary Section. And yes, it qualifies for that.
An excellent Watch!
© Pranav Chaturvedi