Tenzing

The film follows Tenzing Norgay (Genden Phuntsok) from his early years on the Tibetan plateau, after a fateful meeting with pioneering mountaineer George Mallory (Johnny Flynn), to his eventual summiting of Everest with Ed Hillary (Tom Hiddleston) as part of the successful 1953 British expedition led by John Hunt (Willem Dafoe). Throughout the arduous physical climb and the social hurdles he must overcome, we get glimpses into Tenzing’s childhood (Samdrup Dorje Lama) and young adult years (Tenzin Dalha), revealing just how monumental and deeply meaningful his achievement was and  that focus on Tenzing really is the film’s greatest strength.

The man behind the historic ascent

Had an Everest film been made in previous years, it’s likely that more attention would have been given to the British and New Zealand mountaineers. Instead, Peedom puts Tenzing front and centre, celebrating not only his achievement but also the incredible contribution of the wider Sherpa community.The casting is fantastic, with Phuntsok, Dorje Lama and Dalha each playing Tenzing at different stages of his life while convincingly portraying the same character.

Special mention also goes to Thinley Lhamo as his late wife, Dawa, whose passing gives Tenzing a deeply personal motivation to honour her dream for him. The supporting cast is equally strong. Tom Hiddleston is great as the man of few words, Hillary. While we don’t get much of Hillary’s backstory, Hiddleston’s refined, period-appropriate Kiwi accent is a delight.

Willem Dafoe is excellent as the very British John Hunt, whose colonial attitudes lead to the dismissive rejection of Tenzing and the other Sherpas until his eventual recognition of Tenzing’s worth provides a satisfying moment of humility.

The breathtaking beauty and danger of Everest

And my goodness, the visuals!

The seamless combination of practical effects, real-world locations, digital backdrops and visual effects makes this an absolute visual treat and a definite contender in this year’s visual effects awards conversation. The sheer scale of Everest is breathtaking but also terrifying, as the film lays bare the harsh, cold and unforgiving conditions these climbers must endure.

The bottom line

Overall, Tenzing is a deeply inspiring film. Equal parts biographical drama and survival saga, it brings one of the 20th century’s most remarkable achievements to life. The personal flashbacks and interwoven narrative enrich the story, making it feel far less like reading a Wikipedia summary and instead giving us a deeper understanding of the man behind the historic ascent.

There may be a few dramatic liberties along the way, but the central truth remains: Tenzing Norgay was a determined, humble and inspiring pioneer who overcame extraordinary odds to secure his place in history.

REEL DIALOGUE: Overcoming Adversity

Tenzing is a story of overcoming adversity on multiple fronts.

Tenzing faces discrimination from fellow climbers because of his Bhotia heritage and Tibetan origins, while the Sherpas must contend with the colonial attitudes of the British expedition. And then, of course, there’s the small matter of climbing the world’s tallest mountain! Faith is also woven into the story.

Tenzing and his companions draw on their Buddhist beliefs, seeking blessings from monks and showing reverence for Chomolungma, the sacred mountain traditionally understood as the “Goddess Mother of the World”.

There’s something admirable about their determination to face adversity with courage and spiritual conviction. But as Christians, we know that our ultimate hope isn’t found in our own strength or our ability to conquer life’s literal and metaphorical mountains. Nor is it found in worshipping other gods.

Our hope is found in Jesus Christ, who endured the cross, bore our sins and overcame death so that we might be reconciled to God.

We don’t earn salvation by overcoming adversity; we receive it through the grace of the One who went to the cross and accomplished what we could never do for ourselves.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” — Hebrews 12:2

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