The Wall of Shadows
Focus on the Documentary
Eliza Kubarska’s documentary follows the plight of the Nepalis expected to take huge risks to aid western leisure climbers.
The director is climber and documentary-maker Eliza Kubarska whose film follows Ngada, who has eight Everest ascents under his belt.
He is agonising about whether to guide a trio of experienced climbers – two Russians and a Pole – on an expedition to the unclimbed eastern face of Kumbhakarna, a more dangerous and difficult climb than Everest. The reason Ngada is willing to risk it is that his gifted son, Dawa dreams of becoming a doctor, but needs money to make it.
This is a balanced film that doesn’t pick sides. But Kubarska is asking us to consider the ethical issues involved when foreign mountaineers expect Sherpas to take huge risks in pursuit of their conquests.