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North Face (2008)

Director: Philipp Stölzl

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2 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

The ‘mountain film’ was one of the most popular genres of the German cinema of the 1920s and ’30s – before it was discredited for its co-option by the Nazis for propaganda purposes. Here director Philipp Stölzl successfully revives the genre – and its romantic suplots – with this visually compelling 1930s-set drama about the attempt by climber Toni Kurz and colleagues on the Eiger’s treacherous north face. Stölzl’s ably dramatised (and slightly revisionist) ’Scope movie, which stresses personal over national honour and self-realisation rather than supremacist Aryan qualities, obtains serviceable performances from Benni Fürmann as the taciturn but determined Kurz and Johanna Wokalek as his photojournalist girlfriend, but it’s the snow-bound scenery that really steals the show.

Author: Wally Hammond

Time Out London Issue 1999, Dec 11 - 17, 2008

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User reviews of this film

Jean-Christophe said...

Posted on Jan 21 2010 01:31 This is one of the most suspenseful film I have seen in a long time. I had the chance to see it by accident and I was as the previous writer mentioned, on the edge of my seat. The mountain and climbing sequences are unbelievable and this movies does a good job at making you connect with what these guys had to experience. Highly recommended.

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LucyLucy said...

Posted on Dec 15 2008 09:21 This movie will keep you on the edge of your seat, and doesn't need special effects for that. Simply gripping and fantastically revived climbing scenes, old equipment and all! No fussing with computers to create special effects, plus this is not a Hollywood movie, which you will appreciate as the film progresses.

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