Though technically based on the true story of Nadir Dendoune, this is only in a very loose sense. Indeed, the main character's name, age, ethnicity, relations and entire motivation for wanting to climb to the top of Mount Everest were changed for the film. In fact, writer/director Ludovic Bernard never read the book which the film purports to adapt.
The first half of the movie was actually filmed in Nepal (up to Base Camp). The rest was filmed at Mount Blanc (4810m), Europe's tallest mountain at the French/Italian border
The first fictional film to be shot at the Everest South Base Camp.