“Messner’s Himalaya” German language documentary to be launched by year end
ISLAMABAD, Oct 20 (APP): The documentary on the expeditions of Italy’s renowned mountaineer, Reinhold Messner at Nanga Parbat will be aired by the end of ongoing year, said Andreas Nickel, director and producer of the documentary. “The documentary is in German language. However; its translation in English and other languages will be available by next year,” Nickel, who is also chief executive of a German TV Production, Explorer Media Gmbh and Co. told APP in an interview.
The mini series titled “Messner’s Himalaya” revolves around the life of Messner, who is arguably the finest Alpinist of all time. The documentary has been shot in Nanga Parbat (Rapal, Diamir, Rakhiot Sides) up to Khunjerab Pass on Karakorum Highway, Hunza & Nangar Valleys, Concordia with K-2, Gasher-Brurm I & II and Broad Peak with the active support of Alpine Club of Pakistan.
Born on September 17, 1944, the astonishing feats of Reinhold Messner on Mount Everest and on peaks throughout the world have earned him a status of the greatest climber in history. He is renowned for making the first solo ascent of Everest without supplemental oxygen and for being the first climber to ascend all 14 peaks over 8,000 metres above the sea level. He is also the author of around 63 books in German, several of which have been translated into other languages.
Messner along with his younger brother Gunther, then 23 ascended Nanga Parbat but lost him while making the descent. The remains of Gunther were found in 2005. In total, Messner made five attempts to scale the peak during the period from 1970 to 1978 with two successes and three abortions.
The eight-member documentary team led by Adreas Nickel that also included Reinhold Messner was full of praise for the scenic beauty of Nanaga Parbat and adjoining areas. “I will suggest that one should visit these areas to see the colours of nature”, Nickel said.
The 8126m Nanga Parbat is the ninth highest mountain of the world and second in Pakistan after K2. Near one of the base camp sites one can find Fairy Meadows, a grassland, located in Diamer District of Gilgit-Baltistan. At an altitude of about 3,300m above the sea level, the Fairy Meadows serves as the launching point for trekkers summiting on the Rakhiot face of Nanga Parbat. In 1995, the government of Pakistan declared Fairy Meadows a National Park.
In June this year, in a gruesome attack militants killed nine foreign mountaineers and one Pakistani guide in the same area of Nanga Parbat where the team filmed documentary. But like several mountaineers, the incident did not deter the documentary team from visiting glorious peaks of Pakistan and to take shots. “We were already planning to make the documentary before that unfortunate incident happened. And after that (incident) we remained in touch with the government of Pakistan and were assuredof foolproof security.” Nickel said.
He said that the security and assistance provided to them during their one-month stay in Pakistan was exemplary.
“We are thankful to the government and Alpine Club of Pakistan for facilitating us to make a documentary on the feats of world’s greatest mountaineer, explorer and adventurer”, he said.
“We felt secured during our stay here. We also visited several other areas of Gilgit-Baltistan and filmed beautiful landscapes, culture, wooden houses and colourful costumes of the people besides the glaciers”, he added.
