Jimmy Chin & Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi's Meru is a documentary about big-wall climbing that follows renowned alpinists Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin, and Renan Oztur in their pursuit of conquering the Shark's fin on Mount Meru, widely regarded as one of the most difficult and dangerous climbs in the world. Like any great documentary, Meru isn't so much a film about rock-climbing but the passion the men have for the sport, offering a fascinating exploration of psychology of these three men who has dealt with sacrifice and loss in an attempt to pursue their dream and achieve their ultimate goal. Without giving away details it's hard to understand how strong the storytelling is, but lets just say that Meru unfolds in a way that would make most fiction films blush, diving into the psychology of these characters, examining the culture of wall-climbers, and ultimately coming to understand and appreciate why these men risk their lives in such pursuits. While the appeal of accomplishing something nobody has been able to do before is a major aspect of these men's pursuit, Meru takes its examination of these characters one step further, tapping into the psychology of its characters, providing engrossing insight into how their past has shaped their present and the men they are to this day. I particularly found the treatment of Conrad Anker fascinating, a man who is caught between his ultimate passion and his commitment to his family, taking life and death risks every time he goes back out for a climb. Conrad, the elder statesman of the three climbers, is a man who is essentially obsessed with conquering the mountain, due at least in part to his past mentor's failings, and while Meru certainly explores this obsessive psychology that drives him, the film never judges him for it, providing an even-keeled examination. While some viewers are sure to still view the pursuit of these men as crazy, I'd argue that Meru is able to capture the essence of the importance of living life to the fullest, showing the power the mind has over the body and the nirvana which can take place when accomplishing one's dreams. Another thing that jumps out about Meru is the sense of wonder the film is able to create, with the Shark's Fin on Mount Meru taking on an almost supernatural quality. Meru photographs the mountain in a way that gives it ominous presence, standing in defiance, daring big-wall climbers to scale its dangerous peaks. The film gives the viewer a front row seat on this extremely difficult climb, providing intimate detail into the sheer scope, danger, and difficulty of such a climb on these three men. Providing an in-depth look at three rock-climbers and their decade long pursuit of climbing Shark's Fin on Mount Meru, Jimmy Chin & Elizabeth Chai Vaserhelyi's Meru is a beautiful documentary which captures the essence of the wall-climbing culture, the special bond formed between climbers, and the the risks three men are willing to make in an effort to achieve their ultimate dream.
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June 2023
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