Written by Luke Davies and directed by Jennifer Peedom, this is a film where the summit of Mount Everest has a surreal presence. Genden Phuntsok plays Tenzing Norgay, Willem Dafoe plays Colonel Hunt, and Tom Hiddleston plays Edmund Hillary in this adventure tale of those who want to climb Mount Everest come to life. Tenzing showcases the world’s most breathtaking cinematography and mountain views I have ever seen. The concept of accomplishments flow with many spellbinding effects. A portrayal of an era where the precautions are limited creates an atmosphere that reminds its audience to never give up.
Tenzing has earned a lot of praise and rewarding achievements in many film festivals this year. It was featured in the 53rdTelluride Film Festival, the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), The 22nd Zurich Film Festival, and is coming up in the 2026 Nashville Film Festival. With its many festival appearances in the month of September, Tenzing is bound to find its spot in award season categories. The era of sacrifice and accomplishments has a heartfelt meaning. It dazzles with mountain scenery and wonderous shots of Mt. Everest. There is also the depictions of courage with others. Deep down though, Tenzing just reminds its audience that anything is possible when one puts their minds to a task.
Tenzing is the hero of the film with the plot revolving mainly around him. The story of the 1953 mission to embark on the British Everest Expedition shines. Tenzing teams up with Colonel Hunt and Edmund Hillary. There are others as well, but all three of them are the heroes behind the mountain expedition.Their dynamic trio is where Tenzing is a masterpiece on a surreal level. Climbing mountains is not easy—but Tenzing is the one that delivers much of the hope for the world around him.
What I admire most about Tenzing is how it captures his younger days in the village and then jumps back to his Everest adventure. The reminder that he started in this one place brings a lot of positive emotions and the thought that every hero has a story. Tenzing’s is brutal and persistent one. The smile on his face is his trademark for the world. The accomplishments of his life and mountain expeditions will live for generations. Tenzing is also an influence—he encourages his teammates to not quit abandonplans as the continuation of the climb gets steeper. There are moments where parts of the mountain can break—the message to keep going continues to glow in Tenzing.
The most essential aspect though, is how it brings in the moments of global warming impacting the climb. There are moments where the team finds themselves trying to think of new plans, move things around, or even give up. Tenzing is not about giving up, but he is also about safety. The writing of the film is created to have a literal landscape containing paths with thoughts of quitting, but also ones leading to encouragement to climb to the top. Once they accomplish that, they will remember their achievement forever.
Astonishing in the storyline, the photography, and the continuity. This is an experience that feels like a National Geographic sensation. One of the best films from the mind of Jennifer Peedom. Her epic filmmaking here will captivate audiences around the world with Tenzing. Four out of four stars for Tenzing.
