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'Sherpa' marvels at Mt. Everest from a spiritual point of view
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Filmed for seven weeks, 'Sherpa' captures the commercialization of climbing Mt. Everest.
(Sherpa/-)
A
span style="line-height:1.6em">At an elevation of 6,400 meters above sea level, a conflict occurred in the cold and unforgiving Mount Everest between three European climbers and around 100 Sherpas, an ethnic group living in the mountainous area of Nepal. Sherpas believe the mountain is the mother goddess of the world.
The 2013 scene was very much in contrast with the inspiring spirit of cooperation and brave optimism shown by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay as they reached the summit back in 1953.
Interested in uncovering the truth behind the brawl between the climbers and the Sherpas, documentary filmmaker Jennifer Peedom, who first trekked up Everest in 2003, decided to film the 2014 Everest climbing season from the point of view of the Sherpas. However, the crew unwittingly documented a tragedy when 14 million blocks of ice fell onto the climbing route on April 18, 2014, killing 16 Sherpas.
Filmed for 7 weeks, Sherpa captures the commercialization of climbing Everest and features footage of the porters bringing supplies and equipment for the climbers. The film focuses on the life of Sherpa Phurba Tashi.
Sherpas are a familiar subject for Peedom. Before making the film, she made a documentary about the people behind the profession. She is particularly interested in how Sherpas see the mountain from a spiritual point of view.
“I could see there was an inherent conflict there and so I thought that was interesting,” she said during a conference call.
Regarding the commercialization of mountain climbing, Peedom said, “I think that it needs to be done very carefully. People need to be mindful of their footprints and what they’re leaving behind. It's a really tricky boundary because certain economies need that income. So I think it’s a question of educating people, which is part of what I wanted to do with this film. I want to show the impact [of the commercialization] on the locals and the environment. When people are more aware of the negative impact, they will be able to approach the mountain and the locals with more respect," she added.
Sherpa is slated to premiere worldwide on April 24 on the Discovery channel. (kes)
