realityinmind Review of Sherpa

Sherpa (2015)

Did any of the previous reviewers actually watch the documentary?

[4/10 · 3 March 2018]

The cinematography is very good. And it is exciting that everything was caught on film (the Sherpa fighting, the rescue effort, the politically-motivated protests, etc etc). But the documentary falls flat of following through with the intended story, and instead showcases how much of grandiose liar Russell Brice is. It seems that the filmmakers started out with the intention of capturing the expedition on film, but then the tragedy occurred so the filmmakers shifted direction and documented the rescue operation. Then protests began so the filmmakers again shifted direction and wanted to make it about the plight of the Sherpa. But at the same time all of these foreigners are whining about how they can't go up the mountain because the Sherpas are complaining that a chunk of their people died. So Russell Brice and a few privileged hikers decided to stage a counter-protest by inventing this story about how a few (invisible) Sherpas are threatening to kill everyone if they go up the mountain, so they are going to withdraw from Base Camp and make all of the Sherpas suffer their wrath and learn their lesson?! I can't believe that this Russell Brice guy invented a story about Sherpas threatening to kill people, and then basically told the Sherpas that it was in their best interest if the hikers leave, and then he told the hikers that the Sherpas wanted them to leave. Appalling. THAT is the real story here, but it is glossed over and the only person in the film complaining about him lying is edited into bits and pieces to make him sound confusing.