Mountain (2017)

Directed by: Jennifer Peedom | 74 minutes | documentary | Voice over: Willem Dafoe

We sometimes forget that humans are really just a speck in a universe that is far too large. Those who like to be reminded of this need only look at the endless sky, the infinite ocean or the vast desert. Or he puts on hiking boots and starts the ascent of that other natural feast: a mountain.

The Australian documentary ‘Mountain’ is entirely devoted to mountains. From above we look down on the mountains below and (especially) on the fanatics who climb mountains, descend by ski or bicycle, or plunge down with a parachute. Some images were shot especially for this documentary, but most are from image archives around the world.

The film has three dominant elements: images, music and voice-over. The images are fabulously beautiful, especially those in which man appears as a crumb against a huge mass. In addition, the breakneck feats performed by the mountaineers provide spectacle and excitement. The score with old and new classical music, often ominous and dramatic, is a successful marriage with the images. That marriage is sometimes reminiscent of the classic ‘Koyaanisqatsi’, although ‘Mountain’ never reaches that level.

We owe that lesser level in part to the voice over, which keeps playing the same talk. About the attraction of the mountain, mountain climbing as a mental test, the mountain as primordial power, man as seeking and more of that beauty. Fortunately, a brief history of mountaineering allows for a bit of variety. But it doesn’t go very deep, and after half an hour we start to believe those lyrics.

‘Mountain’ also suffers from a lack of focus. On the one hand the beautiful mountains, on the other the daredevils who hardly seem to notice all that natural beauty. These daredevils are the type who run a triple triathlon for lack of mountains, cross the Atlantic Ocean in a rubber boat or climb the Eiffel Tower in wind force 10. The psyche of that type probably lends itself to a documentary, but not one specifically about want to go mountains.

All this makes ‘Mountain’ a film full of beauty but with a scant content. The suddenly emerging criticism of mass tourism on Mount Everest comes too late and will soon be over. Just like this documentary, by the way, which clocks in nicely on time at 75 minutes.