Meru

Name: Meru
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sport, Documentary
Released: August 14, 2015
Duration: 87 min
Rating: 77

2015

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 22 Ratings

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8.3

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8.3	User Score Universal acclaim based on 22 Ratings

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Meru

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Movie Details & Credits

Music Box Films | Release Date: August 14, 2015 | R

Summary: Three elite climbers struggle to find their way through obsession and loss as they attempt to climb the Shark's Fin on Mount Meru, one of the most coveted prizes in the high stakes game of Himalayan big wall climbing.

Director: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Sport, Documentary

Rating: R

Runtime: 87 min

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Critic Reviews

100

David Edelstein

Aug 20, 2015

Meru is a packed 90 minutes. And I guess it is inspiring, in the sense that if human beings can endure this kind of risk and punishment, they could colonize Mars or breed a super-race to carry our species to the ends of the galaxy. All the familiar critical adjectives (harrowing, etc.) sound especially lame in this context. The movie is sick. Read full review

Dennis Harvey

Sep 3, 2015

Harrowing and ultimately moving. Read full review

The Playlist Nicholas Laskin

Sep 3, 2015

Meru is a flawed but deeply riveting account of what happens when men walk right up to the edge of madness. Read full review

Jeannette Catsoulis

Aug 13, 2015

Blindingly beautiful and meticulously assembled by the award-winning editor Bob Eisenhardt, Meru easily makes you forget that what you are watching is completely bananas. Read full review

Christian Holub

Aug 19, 2015

Meru the film, then, might be the anti-Everest. There are no expensive special effects, but there is a lot of authentic climbing footage. Read full review

Mike D'Angelo

Aug 12, 2015

How one responds to Meru will largely depend on whether its three subjects come across as heroically courageous or suicidally reckless. Read full review

Carson Lund

Aug 12, 2015

Its expositional crutch proves most inadequate when the team ascends the final pitch to the top after years of preparation in no more than a minute of screen time. Read full review

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User Reviews

BrookElison

Sep 2, 2015

Meru is one of 2015's best films, simply put. This is not to be missed on the big screen. The film is so understated at times, while somehow simultaneously blowing one's mind in terms of visuals and storytelling. If you like, you can research the subject matter beforehand, but I think itMeru is one of 2015's best films, simply put. This is not to be missed on the big screen. The film is so understated at times, while somehow simultaneously blowing one's mind in terms of visuals and storytelling. If you like, you can research the subject matter beforehand, but I think it unnecessary. In fact, the less you know about it the bigger the impact as this incredible film's narrative unfolds. See it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Conkster

Feb 24, 2016

This is a great story, that is never boring. This documentary encapsulates the realism behind alpine climbing. If the story isn't good enough, the filming and cinematography is some of the best I've seen in a documentary. I tried to watch it as I went to sleep, and ended up staying awake forThis is a great story, that is never boring. This documentary encapsulates the realism behind alpine climbing. If the story isn't good enough, the filming and cinematography is some of the best I've seen in a documentary. I tried to watch it as I went to sleep, and ended up staying awake for the whole film, griping.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

quincytheodore

Nov 8, 2015

As breathtaking as the real altitude climb.

Appreciate Meru, for it is rare that a documentary, or movie in general, able to bring audience in such inspiringly immersive journey. This is more than just a trip to the titular location, it's a private real life struggle of the climbers whichAs breathtaking as the real altitude climb.

Appreciate Meru, for it is rare that a documentary, or movie in general, able to bring audience in such inspiringly immersive journey. This is more than just a trip to the titular location, it's a private real life struggle of the climbers which we as viewers may not fully understand, yet it's presented with incredible honesty and amazing visual spectacle.

The documentary spans across many years of the climbers' lives, including all the trials and tribulations they must endure. There's myriad of behind-the-scene video making involved as well as testimony of friends and families. Everything is done with polished approach and this honest nature welcomes audience even if they're not into mountaineering.

What's great about this is how they talk about the darkest days in very professional manner. Having to describe one’s own intimate fear and life altering experience can’t be easy, however the filmmakers still present them with composure. It is rarely that they are emotional when delivering the narrative, even if it's involving a very personal subject, yet the appreciation for the extreme sport and the determination are highly riveting. It also displays the hazard strikingly well one can’t help being absorbed in their excursion.

The rest of it doesn't even need words as the documentary captures beautifully taxing landscape. It offers so much clarity before and during the climb itself, from the preparation, trip in the cities before to the physically exhausting climb. There is no five minutes spent without scenery worthy of being wallpapers or posters.

Meru is a visually stunning journey accompanied by brave and inspiring fellows. It is more than most movies wish they could convey.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Brent_Marchant

Nov 27, 2015

An excellent documentary about the ascent of the Holy Grail of all mountain climbing challenges, India's Mt. Meru (a.k.a. the Shark Fin). The film chronicles the two attempts of a trio of alpinists in reaching the 21,000-foot summit, as well as their personal odysseys in taking on thisAn excellent documentary about the ascent of the Holy Grail of all mountain climbing challenges, India's Mt. Meru (a.k.a. the Shark Fin). The film chronicles the two attempts of a trio of alpinists in reaching the 21,000-foot summit, as well as their personal odysseys in taking on this challenge. Through a wealth of beautiful climbing footage and candid interviews with the mountaineers, the film takes an epic adventure and effectively brings it down to a human scale.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

netflic

Aug 31, 2015

If it were a work of fiction or even "based on real events", I would say "no way", but it's a documentary, with collaborating evidence that it is a true depiction of events. The movie is "Meru", a namesake of a mountain in Himalayas. It's not a tall mountain, 7000 feet lower than Everest,If it were a work of fiction or even "based on real events", I would say "no way", but it's a documentary, with collaborating evidence that it is a true depiction of events. The movie is "Meru", a namesake of a mountain in Himalayas. It's not a tall mountain, 7000 feet lower than Everest, but a central part of it, "a shark's tail" has remained unconquered, being one of the technically most difficult mountains in the world (imagine, it took 10 hours to climb 150 feet).
This movie is the story of three Americans attempting to climb Meru, while filming their accent.
I am not going to spoil it for you with with details and amazing twists. As one of the three guys quipped: "Bad memory is the most important trait for an alpinist”.
Gorgeous scenery, of course, great cinematography.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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