[ANIMATION] The SUMMIT of the GODS (2021)

It is called animated adventure drama.

Based on the Japanese manga. 'Le Sommet des Dieux' follows a story of journalist Fukamachi makoto who accidentally comes across a camera that might've belonged to George Mallory, who was rumored to be the first to climb mount Everest, but there is no solid proof, yet it is a known fact that he had a camera with him. The one who walks away with the camera Fukamachi believes to be Habu Joji, a mountain climber who once had a name, but Habu disappears right before his eyes and he does not know how to contact him or find him. The idea of seeing the film becomes his obsession, but he also follows the path of Habu Joji to figure out if he could find him through old contacts. This is how we see Habu Joji who was always obsessed with climbing and only saw a new goal after standing at the top of the mountain.

Fukamachi realises that Habu still climbs and not only, he might want to do the impossible solo climb of mount Everest and he wants to be there for that moment.

The story mainly follows the two timelines, one of Fukamachi investigating and following the path of Habu through reports and newspapers, while the other timeline shows the path of Habu Joji from his young age, to the way he was always more of a loner and strived to climb higher and higher among people who did not share the same passion. The drama of losing someone during climbing or being stranded himself. Which still did not stop him.

Fukamachi finds Habu in a village closes to his target place and finds out that Habu has been there for years and tried to achieve his goal few times, but without success.

Now Fukamachi follows his path and this climb is the final part of the movie.

It is very atmospheric. There is a sense of awe and also dread, the danger is always there, no matter how silent the mountains can be. The magnitude of mountains and the insignificance of a human being.

I'm not surprised by that ending. It brings the story to its' conclusion. But does the path end here?

The only thing I kinda want to nitpick about and not at the same time is color palette. The animation is amazing, so don't get me wrong, but the color palette is pretty much the same for everything, with slight difference (like before and during the climb). I'm not talking about that. My only wish was to make the scenes of reaching the summit more special? Because they looked like any other view in the movie. Though at the same time I think that maybe this was the point in a way? I'm pulling excuses out of thin air maybe, but that's what Habu meant when he said he can't give answer in what they see at the top of the mountain and what is so special and why they want to risk for it.

RATE: 8/10.