167. Alan Hinkes - The First Briton To Climb The World's Highest Mountains; movie review

ALAN HINKES - THE FIRST BRITON TO CLIMB THE WORLD'S HIGHEST MOUNTAINS
Cert TBA
106 mins
BBFC advice: TBA

Alan Hinkes would make most people feel slovenly.
He has conquered the 14 tallest mountains in the world but, even in mountaineering retirement, he spends much of his time walking up and down peaks in the north of England.
The highest summits I have reached are Snowden, by train, and the Zugspitze between Germany and Austria, by cable car.
I have walked up decent sized hills in Trentino in Italy and in the Lake District and nearly had a heart attack.
I joke but real mountaineering is no laughing business. Hinkes has seen tragedy and has feared for his own life.
However, Terry Abraham's film sidesteps the sadness and avoids the occasional controversy in which he has been embroiled during his career.
Instead, this is very much a tribute rather than a warts-and-all biopic.
Hinkes loves the camera so much that he provides occasional face-to-lens narrative. It isn't awkward because he is damned good at it.
Indeed, he comes across as very knowledgable on myriad subjects (beer and engineering are his passions as well as the great outdoors) and he seems a thoroughly decent bloke.
All of this documentary's contributors endorse that view and are in awe at his achievements.
It is possibly because the law of averages says he should have died up a mountain, that Hinkes loves life.
He is just as passionate about walking across the North Yorkshire hills, leading children on expeditions or practising with a mountain rescue team, as he was about climbing Mount Everest (twice!).
Abraham's film reflects his deep enthusiasm with some wonderful scenic images from both the Himalayas and Hinkes' beloved English countryside.
It made me want to get out there and experience it myself... but probably not under my own steam.

Reasons to watch: Compelling hero and some incredibly scenic shots
Reasons to avoid: Is a tribute rather than a biopic

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 7/10

Director quote - Terry Abrahams: "I'll admit I've shed tears of relief this weekend. A HUGE thank you to all those who packed out the Rheged Centre for the premiere of my Alan Hinkes film. The reactions and praise has been utterly overwhelming."

The big question - What gene makes these people try the seemingly impossible?

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