Ascent to Nanga Parbat (1979): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1979, Ascent to Nanga Parbat is a documentary and adventure film directed by Bernard Muller, running about 29 minutes.

What it’s about. A film about the 1979 expedition to Nanga Parbat in Pakistan, led by Lyon native Jean-Pierre Frésafond. After a city tour, they set off by bus and then on foot with Sherpas to base camp. Having set out to attempt the Rupal Pillar, the expedition was unable to reach its objective in time (torrential rain, blocked roads, scree, etc.) and lost precious time before choosing to attempt the Mazeno Ridge by default. The team theoretically had the means to do so, since it brought together no fewer than 21 strong climbers, with a large core from Lyon—a concentration of talent rarely seen. But the resulting group dynamic worked contrary to expectations, and they had to settle for the most modest of consolation prizes: the ascent of the First Peak (6,880 meters). Frésafond recounted this in a book-testimony "The Revenge of the Himalayas - The Human Adventure at Nanga-Parbat".

Who’s in it. Ascent to Nanga Parbat stars Jean-Pierre Frésafond as Self, Patrick Gabarrou as Self and Bernard Muller as Self.

How it landed. With an audience score of 10.0/10, Ascent to Nanga Parbat sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Ascent to Nanga Parbat page.

If you liked it. Fans of Ascent to Nanga Parbat tend to enjoy One Direction: This Is Us, Burn the Stage: The Movie, BTS World Tour: Love Yourself - Japan Edition and Senna.