163. Berg; movie review

 

BERG

Cert 12A

79 mins

BBFC advice: Contains images of a real dead body

For me, a major part of the enjoyment of cinema is storytelling. I need to feel immersed, even feel I am a witness to the events that are unfolding.

Others may consider that movies can be akin to art installations and grab their audiences through imagery alone.

I presume that is the intention of Joke Olthaar with Berg.

This is 79 minutes of dramatic mountain landscape scenes - occasionally dotted with humanity but mostly not.

The camera lingers over rocks and peaks and leaves the audience in awe of the scale of the mountain ranges.

It is shot in black and white with a low-key soundtrack, emphasising the rawness of the presentation.

Then we see dots on the horizon and realise that a group of climbers are risking their lives by pitting their wits and physicality against Mother Nature.

And, as the elements turn, we see just how insignificant one of these specs is against real power.

My problem with Berg is that, while I appreciate the footage I became easily distracted away from its images because of its lack of an egaging story.

I have seen many documentaries set in the mountains which have grabbed more because they were backed up by narration or first-person accounts.

I couldn't fall for a video without commentary in the same way.

Reasons to watch: Arresting scenery

Reasons to avoid: No explanation

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 6/10

Did you know? An average of 30 rock climbers die each year in pursuit of their sport.

The final word. Joke Olthaar: "I wanted to make you lose yourself in the mountains. Because that's what happens when you walk there. It seemed unlikely that you could catch that, because, of course, it's not the same as being there. But when I see the film now, I actually think it turned out pretty well." Film Krant

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