Everest & the Triumph of Character

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‘Human beings simply aren’t meant to function at the cruising altitudes of a seven-forty-seven’

Yet every year hundreds of people do just that.  

Everest (2015), stars a multitude of famous faces, including Jason Clarke, Jake Gyllenhaal and Josh Brolin, and focuses on the events that occurred in 1996. In May of that year, two commercial expeditions were hit by one of the most serve storms recorded. The film follows the true story of the mountaineers, as they try to survive on Mount Everest. 

One of the main things I love about films that are based a real events, is that it heightens the drama of the situation. As thrilling and captivating as fiction can be, it is pales in comparison to truth. In those heart-stopping moments, nothing is more terrifying than knowing that it actually happened to someone. That someone lived those moments.

However in comparison, the best thing about fiction is that there are clear protagonists and antagonists. The tension between people is heightened and exaggerated for dramatic effect. For the most part, writers give you someone to root for and someone to hate. Real life isn't always like that.  People are more complex, than simply being good or bad. 

This is where Everest excels. Realising that it needed to be respectful to the individuals of this story, it didn't take sides. It didn't revert people to cliches and it never tried to sensationalise the truth, but told the story in the most unbiased way possible. 

The main expedition leaders were Rob Hall and Scott Fisher. Both had extremely different personalities, Rob was more cautious and practical, whilst Scott was more spontaneous and believed in letting people find their own way. Their personalities and techniques were in direct competition with each other. Were this fiction, they would be prime to be the rivals of the story, racing against each other at all costs to reach the summit. However these were real people and life doesn't always work that way.

The writers could have just loosely based the film on real events and tried to amplify their differences, but that would have been unfaithful to both Rob and Scott and an insult to their characters. In the end, regardless of their differing techniques or beliefs, both were experienced mountaineers and realised the dangers ahead of them, so they worked together to try to help both their teams summit. 

It's thoroughly refreshing to see a film embracing storytelling, not for shock purposes, the events themselves are shocking enough. Everest allows you to meet the people,  see their story and make up your own minds. 
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