Manaslu – Mountain of Souls

The Life and Climbs of Hans Kammerlander (2018)

Hans Kammerlander suffered his most painful tragedy in 1991 on Manaslu in Nepal, where he lost two of his best friends. One fell down for unknown reasons, the other was struck by lightning next to him. Hans, himself in acute mortal danger, survived the thunderstorm on the brink of madness. It was a mountain thunderstorm that should never have happened.

With his ascent in the fall of 2017, Hans Kammerlander not only faced the mountain again after 26 years, but also the tragedy of 1991, which he has still not been able to come to terms with.

The film attempts to paint a picture of a man who has dedicated his life to the mountains, experienced painful tragedies, many losses and great triumphs. A man who constantly asks himself: “Why am I still alive and why are most of my friends dead?”. Much of Hans can be found in his childhood. His time as a young mountain farmer and half-orphan shaped him.

“When I no longer have any sponsorship contracts, when nobody wants to see my lectures, when I no longer have any financial means, then I want to go home to my family farm. I’ve always been happiest there, in the cowshed and in the hay. And I can return to where I came from at any time and with a light heart – without missing a thing.“ The story attempts to question, without judgment, what still drives him to the mountains and how it is possible for him to “go on” despite the tragedies. A biopic of one of the greatest mountaineers of our time, portrayed using archive footage and with the help of many actors in re-enacted scenes on exposed mountains and on his home farm. The climax of the film, however, takes place in the here and now, when Hans Kammerlander’s last great adventure on the 8163 meter high Manaslu in Nepal is documented.

Director: Gerald Salmina (I worked on this film in props, research, and location scouting)