Whether the result is tragic or glorious, most mountaineering feats are recounted as heroic undertakings. This is also true of the official account of the first ascent of K2 by an Italian expedition in 1954. However, few are aware that behind the success of the expedition, there is also a story of defamation. In his documentary Reinhold Messner shows how easily the solidarity between climbing companions can be transformed into deceit and betrayal, following the trail of the main loser in the expedition: Walter Bonatti. After a series of accusations and attempts by his companions to discredit him, Bonatti was only officially rehabilitated in 2008. Making use of a fascinating combination of archive material and reconstruction, Messner recounts what really happened and how Bonatti obtained justice in the end.
Language: German
Subtitles: Italian
Screenings
K2 - Der Grosse Streit is part of this program:
Director
Reinhold Messner
One of the most prolific mountaineers of his generation, he was the first person to climb Mount Everest solo and, along with Peter Habeler, the first to reach its summit without the use of supplemental oxygen. He has written more than 75 books, and has established a series of museums committed entirely to mountains.
Gallery
Trento Film Map
