In the 1980s Maciej Berbeka and a team of Polish mountaineers became fascinated with climbing the world's tallest peaks during winter time. Typically mountains over 8000ft would only be attempted in the warmer summer months when there was less chance of avalanches and other hazards.
This group of climbers became known as the “Ice Warriors” and their goal was to be the first to climb all eight-thousanders (14 mountains above 8,000 metres) during the winter.
The team summited Annapurna and Mount Everest and several other eight-thousanders, but their most challenging climb was Broad Peak.
Broad Peak is the 12th tallest mountain in the world and is located on the border of Pakistan and China. The peak gets its name from its extremely broad summit, which spans over 1.5 kilometres.
What Is Broad Peak About?
Broad Peak is a Polish film about Maciej Berbeka and his two bids at summiting Broad Peak mountain.
In 1988 Maciej Berbeka attempted Broad Peak, a dangerous climb in the Karakoram Mountain range situated on the border between Pakistan and China.
The climb became incredibly difficult, and weather conditions were extremely harsh. Maciej Berbeka made a solo effort to reach the peak, and he thought he'd reach the top of the mountain.
The climb had almost killed him and it was only through the help of his teammates that he was able to make it back down the mountain alive. Berbeka later discovered that to save his life, his team had misled him, and he was just 17 metres short of the summit.
The ‘failure' haunted him, and in 2013 he and an elite team of Polish climbers decided to give Broad Peak another go – to settle the score, to finish what he'd started.
Is Broad Peak Any Good?
The first half of the movie covers Berbeka's unsuccessful first attempt in 1988, while the second half documents his return to the mountain with a team of climbers in 2013.
The scenery in the movie is spectacular, and the story is both inspirational and heart-wrenching. It's a must-see for any fan of mountaineering or adventure films.
If you've seen Everest or the climbing documentary 14 Peaks then you'll enjoy this Polish movie.
Despite failing to summit the mountain on his first attempt, Maciej Berbeka was determined to try again. Can the intrepid 58-year-old conquer Broad Peak and finally achieve his lifelong dream?
Other Polish Films & Series
If you're looking for more Polish films and shows to watch, why not try Signs. It is a clever, well-acted and intriguing ‘whodunnit' that is well worth watching.
Another great Polish film is In For A Murder. When Magda discovers a murdered woman in the local park, she uncovers a connection to the disappearance of her friend fifteen years earlier and decides to start her own investigation.
If mountain climbing documentaries are more your thing then you should check out 14 Peaks. The documentary does an excellent job of showing the perils of climbing, from avalanches to dangerous ice crevasses.
It also shows Nims Purja climbing Broad Peak, along with 13 other 8,000-metre peaks, in just 7 months!
