I should outline this title apart from other movies on the topic. First of all it was generally well on actors chosen. I liked the atmosphere of the story and how the novel plot was carefully treated. For a long period of time I haven't seen a good chamber story about the mountain climbers. With due respect to the personalities. This is not neither ambitions blockbuster, nor the attempt to admire the view by visuals as much of the Hollywood films tend to do. To say for myself - my farther was a critic for the film, as he is concerned for this sport for the whole-life period. And even though the story seems to be mystical: not specially trained photographer follows step by step the qualified climber in his summit attempt, my farther haven't find this fact naive or impossible. Much of the success in this sport depends mainly on the personal qualities, self confidence, the purpose: not just reach the pick, but to follow the ideals, etc. What I mostly liked in this movie is the cast and play of the main actors. I liked Okada and Hiroshy. They just show, that Japanese actors can play deep and thoughtfully. And they as nobody suits to perform as strong persons. I gave them 10 from 10, especially for Okada, in the scenes after he returned to the ordinary life after the first summit attempt, how the prior events had changed him, and how he reacts to the attitude of ordinary people to the climbers and their life challenge. Okada is neither too pathetic, nor overplaying. He is just as much as needed for his role. Even in the last and most pathetic scene of the story. And this admires me. I should say that he is one of the most promising Japanese actors nowadays, at least I believe in his play in various lines.
There were some mismatches on the dynamics of the story, of course. I would blame the novel plot for that mainly. Fukamachi's personality, as photographer could be shown in a more interesting and earnestly manner. Actually, I didn't enjoy the way the Nepal country was shown, I was inspired by the anime Flag, where it was veiled by the name of the imaginary country, and ordinary people were presented in a touching manner of the girl-photographer point of view. In this film there seemed to be the lack of more profound images. Yet it was good done. I was not convinced by the woman character, as nothing would have changed if it was not presented so often in the course of the story. The OST is rather good, but one could wish for a more breaking main theme, to be associated with the story. Though I loved this music much more, than those too banal blockbuster music. 8 of 10, to add actors as 10 of 10.
