NORDWAND (NORTH FACE) — ★★1/2 — Benno Furmann, Florian Lukas, Johanna Wokalek; with English subtitles (German dialects); not rated, probable PG-13 (violence, profanity, brief gore, slurs, brief drugs, vulgarity); Broadway Centre
The real star of "Nordwand" — also known as "North Face" — is cinematographer Kolja Brandt.
Brandt and the film's camera crews capture the scenic Eiger, the treacherous northern face of the Alps, in stunning, memorable fashion. There are large-screen documentaries on mountain climbing that aren't this beautifully shot.
And these sequences are easily the best in this fact-based drama about early attempts to successfully climb the Eiger, which defied many attempts in the early portions of the 20th century. (The Eiger claimed several victims before the first successful ascent was made.)
Other quality moments in the overlong film come when characters are on the side of the mountain. The ground-bound ones are much less successful.
As the film notes, the Eiger proved to be a great source of frustration to German government officials who were hoping to capitalize on any athletic triumphs for their country. (These events take place just prior to the 1936 Berlin Olympics.)
Their last best hope may rest with veteran climbers Toni Kurz and Andreas "Andi" Hinterstoisser (Benno Furmann and Florian Lukas).
A childhood friend, neophyte journalist Luise Fellner (Johanna Wokalek), has been assigned to write about their efforts.
Unfortunately, bad weather has delayed the climb. And the duo also has to contend with a pair of Austrians (Georg Friedrich and Simon Schwarz) who are also determined to be the first to summit of the Eiger.
Some of the plotting (credited to four screenwriters) is too conventional and convenient, and the clunky running time is a problem — two-plus hours of this material is too much.
Luckily, we like German film veteran Furmann, who's good as the determined and confident Kurz. The pretty pictures of the mountain itself are pretty enticing as well.
"North Face" is not rated but would probably receive a PG-13 for some strong violent content and imagery (mountain climbing accidents, including violent falls and landslides, as well as violent storms), scattered strong profanity, brief gory and bloody imagery, derogatory language and slurs (some based on nationality), brief drug content (painkillers), and some other suggestive language and references. Running time: 126 minutes.
e-mail: jeff@desnews.com