Media365
Tenzing, a biographical adventure drama directed by Jennifer Peedom, chronicles the triumphant 1953 Mount Everest expedition, during which Nepalese mountaineer Tenzing Norgay and New Zealander Edmund Hillary became the first climbers to reach the summit of the world’s highest mountain. Rather than adopting a triumphant tone, however, the film is reflective and reverential, paying homage to the majestic Everest, known as Chomolungma, which loosely translates to ‘Goddess Mother of the Earth’ in Tibetan.
The biopic is also a historical course correction, shifting the focus from the British-led expedition to Tenzing, the Bhutia climber whose contribution was crucial to its success. It traces his lifelong obsession with the mountain, beginning in 1924, when, as a young boy in a Tibetan valley, he gazes at Everest with awe. His fascination deepens as he grows older and attempts to join mountaineering expeditions. He first earns his place as a porter before eventually securing a spot as a climber in the 1953 expedition.
The film repeatedly returns to the mountain’s grandeur, reminding viewers of its formidable presence and the indomitable human ambition to reach its summit. Admiring the majestic landscape, British Army officer John Hunt (Willem Dafoe), who led the expedition, wonders, “What’s possible up there? What’s the limit?” The film also pays a quiet tribute to legendary British alpinist George Mallory, recalling Tenzing’s encounter with him as a child and, later, Hillary’s reference to Mallory’s book.
Through its multiple flashbacks, the film raises philosophical questions about human ambition, faith and the relationship between man and nature. The local belief that Everest is a goddess remains central to the narrative. When Tenzing seeks the blessings of a local deity and asks a priest how to reach the summit, he is told, “You will climb the way a child climbs into mother’s lap.”
ALSO READ | Yami Gautam on Dhurandhar 2 cameo cheque: ‘Aditya Dhar directing me was my fees’
However, as the narrative shifts between the expedition and Tenzing’s life, the film struggles to maintain a sharp focus. While its reverence for Everest lends the story a contemplative quality, the frequent flashbacks interrupt the narrative’s momentum, pulling attention away from the expedition. The film’s strongest premise lies in reclaiming Tenzing’s place in mountaineering history, but these digressions come at the expense of a more compelling account of how this indigenous mountaineer, through sheer determination, made history.
The cinematography by Stefan Duscio makes Tenzing a rewarding visual experience. Peedom, known for her climbing documentaries Sherpa and Mountain, captures the spectacular mountain landscape in all its glory while conveying the formidable challenges of climbing it. The performances of the three actors who portray Tenzing at different stages of his life are engaging. Samdrup Dorje Lama plays him as a boy, Tenzin Dalha as a young man, and Genden Phuntsok as the older climber who joins the 1953 expedition. Both, Tom Hiddleston and Willem Dafoe are wonderful as Hillary and Hunt, respectively.
Story continues below this ad
Peedom and writer Luke Davies also make a strong statement about outsiders who make history through grit and perseverance. Being a Bhutia, Tenzing was considered an outsider by the Sherpas, while Hillary, a New Zealander, was an outsider among the British climbers. Yet, both overcame these social and cultural boundaries to achieve what had long seemed impossible.
Tenzing works better as a social narrative about perseverance and historical recognition than as a thrilling cinematic account of one of mountaineering’s greatest achievements.
Tenzing movie director: Jennifer Peedom
Tenzing movie cast: Genden Phuntsok, Tom Hiddleston, Willem Dafoe, Caitríona Balfe
Tenzing movie rating: 3 stars
