Nordwand (North Face)

Not entirely satisfying mountain climbing, gripping and romping along enough, but flawed.
The start of the film is oddly old-fashioned, quick cuts failing to build up tension or really give us much characterisation. From this, the film does lack weight throughout. However, this doesn't get in the way of what is undoubtedly a well-told story, even if we never quite come to care too deeply about the characters (some fine, underwritten, performances, from the always excellent Ulrich Tukker and the male lead whose name escapes).
The lack of weight is also manifest in a film that, dare I suggest, sticks rather too close to the truth, being at times rather undramatic and oddly paced (for so by the narrative) thanks to this. Well-told, but difficult to entirely know what is being told.
The political aspect is under-played and in that sense entriely unnecessary, it would probably have been for the best if this had either been given the key role, or if it had been excercised as nothing more than the spectre of a tsunami.
We are happy that we have seen this, it was entertaining enough, but it's not a great work.