The high and mighty Alps
How does it feel to wait for decades to climb the highest and most dangerous peaks of the Alps, knowing that your father died attempting to climb the same steep slope 40 years ago? This is the storyline of The Alps, an adventure documentary that tells of celebrated American climber John Harlin III’s quest to climb the 12,000-foot Eiger Mountain on the Swiss side of the Alps. Despite touching on John Harlin II’s untoward demise, the film is not as somber and as dramatic as it sounds. In fact, the 45-minute film is very much a GP-rated family flick, mostly because it also plays up John’s own relationship with his daughter.
At the start of the large-screen format film, John signs on as eager professor, explaining the geography of the Alps to his daughter Siena. This is paired with images of snow scientists studying avalanches and experts discussing the unique culture of the mountain range, which snakes 700 miles through France, Italy and Switzerland and Slovenia.
Directed by the Stephen Judson, the film moves faster as soon as Harlin takes the first step of the climb along with other veteran climbers Robert and Daniela Jasper, both of whom have triumphed over Eiger Mountain before. The film briefly turns poignant when Harlin reaches the point in the climb where his father perished. Here, he pauses for a bit and in a symbolical, obstacle-hurdling gesture, bounds on to the next part of the climb.
Shot with panoramic IMAX cameras, the film is a breathtaking presentation of one of the most majestic mountain ranges in the world. By the end of the flick, it’s easy to understand Harlin’s passion and why he was so determined to conquer the difficult. The Alps mountain ranges, especially shown in 3-D, are both daunting and beautiful, itself an inspiration and message about how important it is to preserve such majestic diversity.
The Alps premiered at Mall of Asia’s IMAX theaters in August, presented by Swiss cement company Holcim and attended by no less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo herself and the President of the Swiss Confederation Pascal Couchepin. Holcim chief operating officer Ian Thackwray says, “The Alps show the strength, performance and passion that drive (Holcim’s) people to achieve nothing short of the best and work together toward their goals.”
The Alps will run at the Mall of Asia IMAX theaters until Sept. 27. For more information about the film, visit www.alpsfilm.com.
