North Face
Reviewed by
Pete Hammond
January 29, 2010 In this fascinating, exciting story, fine German performers show what down and dirty movie emoting is all about. Inspired by a true story, "North Face" (German title: "Nordwand") is a riveting adventure about the competition to climb the most harrowing area of the infamous Alpine mountain the Eiger. In 1936, Nazi propagandists are out to urge the best and brightest of German alpinists to tackle the North Face and bring pride to the home country. Two climbers, Toni Kurz (Benno Furmann) and Andi Hinterstoisser (Florian Lukas), somewhat reluctantly take on the task. As they begin their ascent on the so-called "murder wall," Toni runs into his former love, photojournalist Luise (Johanna Wokalek), who, with her Nazi boss Arau (Ulrich Tukur), is there to report on the event. Toni and Andi begin their ascent, followed closely by two Austrians, Willy (Simon Schwarz) and Edi (Georg Friedrich), as the film darts back and forth between those watching from the ground and the daring climbers who soon lose control of their quest to the unpredictable forces of Mother Nature. Unlike most Hollywoodized mountain-climbing dramas like "Cliffhanger" or "Vertical Limit," this exceptionally well-acted and well-directed take is authentic to the core, at least as far as the climbing sequences go: You feel like you are there on the side of the mountain with these guys. But the subplot of Nazi exploitation of the attempted feat gets a little old as writer-director Philipp Stolzl cross-cuts too much between the climbers and the manipulators at home base. However, the political aspects of the adventure are quite intriguing and little-known in America. What Stolzl gets right is the heart of the story, and that's centered on these young men who would go into harm's way in search of a heroic ending. It's a dead-end path for many, but it dovetails perfectly with the Nazi creed of the time: an ascent against all odds and at any cost in order to attain a higher goal. Expertly acted with bone-chilling restraint and skill by a fine group of German stars, the standouts are Furmann as Toni, the most complex and interesting character in the group, and Wokalek as his young lover, who provides the emotional weight of the film as she too takes to the mountain to help rescue the one true love of her life. Although this part of the mostly true story is fictional, it provides needed humanity in the midst of the Nazi circus that surrounds the attempts on the Eiger. The cinematography by Kolja Brandt has already taken awards in Germany, and it's easy to see why. "North Face" is breathtaking to see and experience. It may not be for everyone, but it's a hell of a ride for those who want to climb on board. Genre: Adventure/Drama Written and directed by: Philipp Stolzl Starring: Benno Furmann, Johanna Wokalek, FLorian Lukas, Simon Schwarz, Georg Friedrich, Ulrich Tukur |
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Events Calendar
Industry Grosses
| Rank | Title | Gross |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | WICKED | $1,534,111 |
| 2. | THE LION KING | $1,445,999 |
| 3. | SPIDER-MAN TURN OFF THE DARK | $1,433,241 |
| 4. | THE BOOK OF MORMON | $1,425,488 |
| 5. | HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING | $1,319,824 |
| 6. | WAR HORSE | $960,191 |
| 7. | JERSEY BOYS | $915,982 |
| 8. | PORGY AND BESS | $878,884 |
| 9. | FOLLIES | $878,880 |
| 10. | THE MOUNTAINTOP | $693,128 |
Week ending Feb 06, 2012.
Credit: The Broadway League
| Rank | Title | Gross |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | CHRONICLE | $22,004,098 |
| 2. | WOMAN IN BLACK, THE | $20,874,072 |
| 3. | GREY, THE | $9,300,999 |
| 4. | BIG MIRACLE | $7,760,205 |
| 5. | UNDERWORLD AWAKENING | $5,500,744 |
| 6. | ONE FOR THE MONEY | $5,206,279 |
| 7. | RED TAILS | $4,735,595 |
| 8. | DESCENDANTS, THE | $4,552,943 |
| 9. | MAN ON A LEDGE | $4,351,036 |
| 10. | EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE | $3,802,367 |
Week ending Feb 06, 2012.
