North Face

121 minutes

Germany, Austria

Based on a true story, NORTH FACE is a gripping adventure drama about a competition to climb the most dangerous rock face in the Alps. In 1936, Nazi propaganda urges German Alpinists to conquer the unclimbed north face of the Swiss massif, the Eiger, bringing two reluctant climbers, Toni Kurz and Andi Hinterstoisser, to begin their daring ascent and attempt to scale the infamous rock face, often called the Murder Wall. While preparing themselves at the foot of the North Face, Toni and Andi unexpectedly run into Luise, the early love of Toni. Now a journalist, she has come with her boss Arau, a loyal Nazi, to report about the first ascent. With NORTH FACE, director and scriptwriter Philipp St퀌_lzl, a multi-talented and soughtafter opera, music video, commercial and feature-film director, has succeeded in newly defining the genre of the mountain film and transposing it to the 21st century.

91% on the CINEMETER

STL

83% - Feb 7, 2010

This is one of the most intense movies I have ever seen. Fabulous! Exhausting!
St. Louis Member

Very suspenseful, credible film. . .effective use of sound and momentary silence. Technically accomplished, without looking like 'special effects.'
St. Louis Member

Cinematography was the star! Contrast between the drama on the mountain and the hotel below was stunning. (Anyone who climbs mountains must be insane.)
St. Louis Member

88% - Nov 22, 2009

'A real cliffhanger,' to coin a bad pun. Hardly relaxing, though - my stomach is still in knots and my heart is still racing!
San Francisco Member

Very suspenseful, most realistic climbing film I've seen, though it needed a good editor. I thought the politics of the time were depicted at an appropriate level.
San Francisco Member

Unbelievable and fascinating and stressful. Absolutely correct balance between the story and the depiction of the politics of the time.
San Francisco Member

93% - Jan 31, 2010

A nail-biting, brutally honest action film. And people think the 'Saw' movies are torture!
Greater New Haven Member

Compelling, nerve-wracking, unrelenting. Beautiful contrast between scenes of Eiger and down below. Excellent color contrasts (white/gray-reds) and moral contrasts. Music and cinemtography great as well.
Greater New Haven Member

Excellent - the back and forth between warmth and cold, from safety to harsh and unforgiving nature caused my emotions to shift from relaxed and comfortable to tense and hopeful.
Greater New Haven Member

MIL

94% - Feb 21, 2010

Overall, a riveting, terrifying film. You could feel the cold wind and snow while the climbers were up the mountains.
Milwaukee Member

Good suspense! Nice keeping with the period.
Milwaukee Member

Kept my interst until the very end. Not many foreign films do that for me.
Milwaukee Member

BOS

92% - Jan 31, 2010

Powerful, I was totatly wrung out at the end. Thank you. Spectacular. How did they do it? Very gripping movie.
Boston Member

Tense and gripping. I need a tranquilizer. This was amazing. Cinematography was great. On the edge of my seat.
Boston Member

Wow! Amazing cinematography.
Boston Member

BOCA

96% - Feb 14, 2010

Extremely tense but excellent.
Boca Raton Member

Awesome but I'm exhausted watching this movie.
Boca Raton Member

Convinced me to never go mountain climbing!
Boca Raton Member

ATL

89% - Jan 24, 1970

Dramatic and moving depiction of the simplicity and complexity of mountain climbers' motivations in their daring pursuits. But I was really pulling for a happy romantic ending...
Atlanta Member

This film was incredibly realistic at portraying the suspenseful drama of the climb--unfortunately, it was so good at this that it was excruciating for me to watch.
Atlanta Member

Riveting – great job of maintaining suspense and holding my attention. Fascinating how talented they had to be – creating (making their pitons). Also impressive was their ability to strategize and how their decisions had life-death ramifications. Great job with the music to create drama and suspense!
Atlanta Member

89% - Nov 8, 2009

I climbed that mountain with them – I'm exhausted!
Washington, DC Member

This is a great movie, which can be watched at several levels: history, love story, adventure/thriller, and an outstanding vehicle for capturing the zeitgeist of pre-WWII nazi Germany and the attitudes that led them to national catastrophe.
Washington, DC Member

It was an exhausting film to watch. I liked it in spite of my aversion to action films.
Washington, DC Member

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