Movie-TV
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Almost documentary in style, Bruce Greenwood is top billed as Herman Buhl, a brilliant young Austrian climber who clashes with the leader of his expedition during the assault of Nanga Parbat, the world's fifth highest peak and the most dangerous mountain in the Himalayas. The only member of the group to make it to the top, his climb becomes a soul-searching experience explored in letters back to his wife. Near death during the descent, he is joined by the ghost of another climber lost on the same peak 30 years earlier. Told through Buhl's diary with soft voice-overs in a German accent by Greenwood, it's a surprisingly serious film for so young an actor. He made it before starting on St. Elsewhere, but looks older with a heavy beard and darker, curlier hair. It was filmed in Alberta, Canada with location shooting in Pakistan, where Greenwood had to work with a broken ankle for two weeks. Shown with distinction at the Seattle Film Festival, The Climb also won the Kodak International Award of Excellence in 1988. For many years this was Greenwood's favorite film, the one of which he was proudest. The production team was also responsible for an earlier film, Striker's Mountain, and the director worked with him later on The Little Kidnappers.
(1986 independent Canadian film)
Available on video at a reasonable price, but must be special ordered.
Wacko Productions II, Ltd.
Sound Files from The Climb
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Herman writes to his beloved wife
| 28 secs |
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Herman writes to his wife about Nanga Parbat
| 39 secs |
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Why I climb
| 1 min 1 sec |
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Buhl's thoughts on his death
| 1 min 8 secs |