North Face is the criminally under seen German film about a 1936 climbing expedition in Germany started to help build a stronger sense of nationalism for the Nazi party. The story center's around two young best friends/ Nazi officers who decide to put their entire lives on hold for an attempt to scale the perilous mountain glacier called the North Face. Although somewhat reluctant at first they gradually change their minds after realizing that nothing in their lives will be as memorable as attempting this daring feat.
Released early this year by director Philipp Stolzl, the film is a harrowing adventure tale of the first order, made all the more compelling because its based off of actual real life events. It's refreshing for this American viewer here to watch an adventure film and not feel completely safe for all the characters involved. Its this feeling of uneasiness that gives North Face it's true power. Most viewers like me are going to be totally unaware of the real climb and what occurred and are therefore going to be completely in the dark about the outcome of the events happening up on the screen. It all makes for a much more enjoyable experience in the end. The film also features some first rate cinematography that won some German film awards. This is just yet another example of great foreign filmmaking that unfortunately didn't get the attention it so rightly deserved here in America.
B+
2010
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