Torn is a 2021 American documentary film by photographer and explorer Max Lowe, son of the late climber Alex Lowe, who explored his father's high-profile mountain climbing death on the Himalayan peak, Mount Shishapangma, in 1999. His body was discovered 17 years after his death in 2016.[1] The film had its world premiere at the 2021 Telluride Film Festival and was released in the US on December 3, 2021.[2][3] National Geographic Documentary Films produced the film in partnership with Lightbox.[4]
| Torn (2021 documentary) | |
|---|---|
_infobox.jpg) | |
| Directed by | Max Lowe |
| Written by | Michael Harte |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Narrated by | Max Lowe |
| Cinematography | Logan Schneider |
| Edited by | Michael Harte |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 92 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Synopsis edit
On October 5, 1999, Alex Lowe was killed by an avalanche on the slopes of the Tibetan mountain, Shishapangma. His best friend and climbing partner, Conrad Anker, survived the avalanche by fleeing the opposite direction.[1] After the tragedy, Anker and Alex's widow, Jennifer, married, and Anker stepped in to help raise Alex's three sons.[5]
Max's inspiration for filming the documentary was the 2016 discovery of his father's body on Shishapangma. Two climbers found his body on the melted glacier where he had been buried by the avalanche.[6] The family travelled to Tibet to retrieve and cremate his remains in a pyre at base camp.[7][8] Weaving together archival footage of Alex's climbing adventures in home movies and interviews with Jennifer, Conrad, and sons Sam and Isaac, the film examines the impact of his father's life and death, and on his blended family.[5]
Reception edit
Torn scored 100% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 19 reviews.[10] It received The New York Times' Critic's Pick, and was one of several National Geographic Documentary Films to qualify for Oscar consideration in 2022.[11][12] RogerEbert.com gave the film 4 out of 4 stars, calling it a "piercing and viscerally emotional film" and the LA Times called it "satisfyingly emotional without ever feeling sensationalized."[13][14]
Awards edit
| Year | Category | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Grand Prize[3] | Kendal Mountain Film Festival | Won |
| 2021 | Best Feature Film[15] | Banff Mountain Film Festival | Won |
| 2022 | Best Climbing Film[16] | Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival | Won |
| 2022 | Audience Award[17] | Aspen Film Festival | Won |
References edit
- ^ a b "'Torn': Film Review - Telluride 2021 - Max Lowe, the son of renowned mountaineer Alex Lowe, who died in a 1999 avalanche in the Himalayas, examines the impact of his father's life and death on his very unusual blended family by Daniel Fienberg". Hollywood Reporter. September 2, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ "Telluride Film Fest #48: Program Lineup Announced, 9/2 - 9/6! by Susan Viebrock". Telluride Inside and Out. September 2, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
- ^ a b "'Torn,' 'The Alpinist,' 'They/Them' Among Big Winners at Kendal Mountain Film Festival By George Bird". Variety. November 22, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ "Torn - 2021". National Geographic Films. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ a b "Disney+ Premiere of National Geographic Documentary films' 'Torn' Set for February 4th". Disney+. January 20, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ "Anderson Cooper Interview - Son of famed mountaineer explores aftermath of his father's death in new film". CNN. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ "Radical Vulnerability; Can You Find it Within Your Own Story? Max Lowe @10:21". TEDxBigSky. March 3, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- ^ "Losing a Father to the Mountains - In a new documentary, "Torn," Max Lowe grapples with the death of his dad, and the presence of the man who replaced him by Nick Paumgarten". New Yorker. January 22, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ ""Torn" streamed on Disney+, Hulu, ESPN". Hulu. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
- ^ "Torn - 2021 - 100% Tomatometer". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ "CRITIC'S PICK - 'Torn' Review: A Climber's Son Explores His Father's Legacy By Claire Shaffer". New York Times. December 2, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ "Award-Winning Doc 'Torn,' About A Famed Mountaineer And The Family He Left Behind, Set For Disney+ Debut by Matthew Carey". Deadline Hollywood. January 20, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ "Reviews- Torn". Roger Ebert. December 3, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ "Review: A filmmaker processes the death of his father in the somber, heartfelt 'Torn' by Robert Abel". Los Angeles Times. December 9, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
- ^ "2021 Banff Mountain Film Competition Winners". BANFF Centre. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
- ^ "Torn - BC PREMIERE - VIMFF FILM AWARD: VIMFF 2022 BEST CLIMBING FILM". VIMFF. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ "ASPEN FILM ANNOUNCES 29TH ANNUAL ACADEMY SCREENINGS AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS". Aspen Film. Retrieved November 10, 2023.