Last month, Bushwalking Victoria published a list of adventure films for the enjoyment of bushwalkers. Peter Hall, an eagle-eyed member of MUAB, noticed a distinct lack of Australian made documentaries in that list, so has compiled his own. It will likely be published by BWV next month to augment their first offering. MUAB followers can get an early sneak peek here. Perfect for lockdown viewing.
Featured in his list is Ocean to Sky, Michael Dillon’s 2020 film of Hillary’s “best journey of them all”.
Ocean to Sky (2020) – For the people of India, it was a pilgrimage led by a hero of almost god-like status and millions lined the river to watch him pass in his ‘miraculous’ jet boats. Michael Dillon (Cinematographer, Producer, Director)
For Ed Hillary and his 22-year-old son, Peter, it was a healing journey too, as they came to terms with the recent loss of Ed’s beloved wife, Louise and daughter Belinda.
For Ed’s team of friends it was a thrilling ride through the heart of India aboard three of New Zealand’s iconic Hamilton Jet Boats. Driven by the son and grandson of the inventor, and Hillary’s friend and Hindu scholar, Dr Jim Wilson, they navigated the Ganges’ tiger infested delta, crossed its vast, fertile flood plains, struggled up gorges guarded by fearsome rapids towards it sacred origins among the peaks of the Himalaya.
Then, near the Ganges’ snowy source the unthinkable happened. The first man to climb the world’s highest mountain succumbed to severe altitude sickness. The story of the desperate race by his friends and son to save his life has never been told.
Yet, to Hillary Ocean to Sky always remained “the best journey of them all.”
It is being screened in Hoyts theatres, July 5 2021
