The k2 Mountain is one of the deadliest mountains known to man, the 2nd in fact and just short to world’s largest and well renowned Mt Everest. The K2 mountain has been labeled ‘the savage mountain “ due to the extreme difficulty of ascent with a ridiculous 25 percent death-to-summit ratio (compared to Everests 5%), it’s basically suicide With 302 summits and 80 fatalities, about one person dies on the mountain for every four who summit and to push the limits further, it has never been climbed in winter, it’s just too nuts, in comparison K2 makes Everest look like childs play.
Now you have been acquainted with the K2 lets get into the story of K2: Siren of The Himalayas, a mutli-award winning documentary from the first-time feature director Dave Ohlson, follows four world-renowned climbers, Fabrizio Zangrilli (USA), Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner (Austria), Jake Meyer (England), and Chris Szymiec (Canada) as they attempt to summit K2 on the 100 year anniversary of the Duke of Abruzzi’s surveying expedition in 1909.
The documentary examines the history and geography of the Karakoram mountains while contemplating the risks, rewards and personal nature of exploration in an age when there are few blank spots left on the map. With real-life plot twists of death, unexpected heroism, and surprise ending, It’s a trek as thrilling as any Hollywood blockbuster, the film is intercut with old footage and photos of that adventure, narrated with passages from the duke’s writings.
The documentary’s biggest highlight is its amazing climbing footage, much of it shot by Mr. Ohlson; the film gets in close, with snow on the lens, and captures the sound of piercing winds at high altitude. More than once, you may wonder exactly who’s shooting. Shedding light on the filmmaking process would have only enriched this well-wrought but limited extreme-sports portrait.
For nature and climbing enthusiasts, this is a must-see. Although it’s an ode to climbers even viewers not naturally drawn to the subject matter may well be pulled under the film’s sway, as it evokes something of what movie fans must have felt decades ago watching newsreels of great explorers take on the great unknowns of nature.
You can watch K2: Sirens Of The Himalayas now on Garage Entertainment.
