The Last First: Winter K2

Drugs can make us act irrationally, selfishly. If climbing is a drug, then the limits of what the human body can do also necessarily include things which would not be morally accepted at sea level.

You come to truly care about the people featured in the documentary, making the victories even sweeter and the heartbreaks when disaster strikes even more devastating.

Bar-Lev’s film is far from the usual inspiring look at how determination and grit resulted in a triumph of spirit and body. It’s a movie that instead looks at the cynical opportunism that has led to a dangerous — and in this case, utterly catastrophic — commercialization of extreme climbing.

This documentary about groups, some with very little experience, trying for that last achievement, benefits from extensive footage of the attempt as it was unfolding, as well as interviews with those who survived.

Taken as a whole, the faction-shattered drama between exploited tourists, reckless experts, proud pros, and the unforgiving mountain is as brutal and clear as ice.

It’s a movie that shows us the dark side of literally getting high. That’s engrossing, to a point, but it’s not exhilarating.

Ultimately, The Last First: Winter K2 resonates as a complex story of human resilience, accountability, and survival.