A One Mann’s Movies review of “Tenzing”. (2026, 3.5*, PG).
Tenzing is the story of Tensing Norgay who always dreamed of standing on the top of Chomolungma, or Mount Everest as we better know it. Chomolungma translates into “Holy Mother” or “Mother of the World”: the mountain is a sacred place for Sherpas. Norgay, after a difficult childhood and a tragic marriage, of course succeeded in his childhood wish by being the first person to stand on the peak on May 29th 1953 alongside the New Zealander Edmund Hillary. This is Tensing’s story.
(I have to admit that I got the time of this showing wrong, so missed the first 5 or 10 minutes of the film. I note that Johnny Flynn appears in the film as the earlier adventurer George Mallory who attempted three assaults on Everest in the early to mid 1920’s. Although Mallory is mentioned in the film, I don’t think I ever saw Flynn in the film, so I guess that was a meeting of Tenzing as a boy with Mallory that helped drive his dream!)
One Mann’s Movies Rating:
Plot:
Tenzing Norgay grows up as an outsider to the Sherpa community as a childhood illness leaves him separated from his parents and brought up by monks. His dream of climbing Everest appears a distant hope since Sherpas who join expeditions need experience or strong recommendations. And Tenzing is a poor nobody.
Certification:
UK: PG; US: PG. (From the BBFC website: “mild threat, language.”)
Talent:
Starring: Genden Phuntsok, Tom Hiddleston, Willem Dafoe, Johnny Flynn, Elizabeth Blackmore, Brandon McClelland, Lhakpa Tsamchoe, Caitríona Balfe, Tsering Choden, Tenzin Jigmey, Phurba Tashi Sherpa, Lhakpa Sherpa, Samdrup Dorje Lama, Thomas M. Wright, Harry Greenwood, Tom Dawson, Byron Coll, Benjamin Hoetjes, Benjamin Rigby.
Directed by: Jennifer Peedom.
Written by: Luke Davies. (From a story by Jennifer Peedom and Luke Davies. Inspired by the book ‘Tenzing: Hero of Everest’ written by Ed Douglas.)
Running Time: 2h 5m.
Review:
Positives:
- This is a film of two halves blended together.
- The first – and most gripping – part is the story of the ascent of Everest itself, with the expedition led by British army man John Hunt (Willem Dafoe). This part plays like a ‘Boys Own’ adventure story as we see the team split up into pairs to form assault teams. Hillary (Tom Hiddleston) and Tenzing (Genden Phuntsok) are obviously one of the teams, but despite their undoubted skills, they are way down Hunt’s pecking order owing to neither of them being British.
- The second element of the film is the biopic of the early life of Tenzing, seeing him grow from a boy (Samdrup Dorje Lama) to the man (Genden Phuntsok). These segments – interspersed as flashbacks into the more exciting strand – are endearing enough without ever really bowling me over. What they do provide are a lot of atmospheric shots of Nepal, through extensive on-location shooting at the following locations in the region:
- Kathmandu & Patan: Filmed in areas like Patan Durbar Square and the streets of Kathmandu.
- Bandipur: Used to recreate 1930s Darjeeling.
- Lower Mustang & Dangarjong: Depicted Tenzing Norgay’s early life on the Tibetan Plateau.
- Khumbu Valley & Everest Base Camp: Shot real landscape and base camp sequences.
- The high-mountain climbing scenes – filmed on Mount Cook in New Zealand, standing in for the Himalayas, are well-shot and very exciting.
Negatives:
- The problem with this film is maintaining any sort of tension when you KNOW the history. So when a team of two Brits strike out for the summit, you KNOW they are going to fail. And when all hope appears lost and Hillary and Tenzing have a go, you KNOW they will success and live to tell the tale. So, there’s no escaping it, the history spoils the film.
Summary Thoughts:
It’s an entertaining enough biopic of a man that is certainly well engrained in the history books. I thought it was “fine”. (The illustrious Mrs Movie Man certainly enjoyed it more than I did!)
I note from the Justwatch widget below that the film is already streaming on Apple TV, so you can stream it there if you don’t want the big screen experience.
Where to watch?
Trailer:
The trailer for the film is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkYCY5YR12U.
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