The Summit of the Gods
The Summit of the Gods
Your feedback improves this guide
Your feedback highlights guides that need a second look and keeps the rating trustworthy.
Does this age rating seem accurate to you?
Sign in to vote
Watch-outs
What this film brings
Content barometer
Violence
3/5
Notable
Fear
3/5
Notable tension
Sexuality
0/5
None
Language
1/5
Mild
Narrative complexity
1/5
Accessible
Adult themes
0/5
None
Expert review
The Summit of the Gods is a French-Luxembourgish animated film with a grave and contemplative tone, adapted from Jiro Taniguchi's manga, following a Japanese reporter on an obsessive quest to locate a legendary missing climber and unravel the mystery surrounding George Mallory's camera. The film addresses adult themes with restraint: death on the mountain is a central element of the narrative, several climbers perish throughout the story, including a young apprentice who dies accidentally during a climb, and the lead character knowingly chooses a path he understands may cost him his life. These elements recur steadily throughout the film, carried by a melancholic atmosphere and a deep reflection on the meaning of life, grief, and obsession, without ever veering into spectacle or sensationalism. Parents watching with sensitive teenagers can use the film as a natural starting point for discussions about courage, acceptance of mortality, and passion as a driving force.
Synopsis
A photojournalist's obsessive quest for the truth about the first expedition to Mt. Everest leads him to search for an esteemed climber who went missing.
Difficult scenes
The death of a young apprentice climber who insisted on accompanying Habu during a difficult ascent is recounted in detail during the film. Although depicted without graphic violence, this moment carries significant emotional weight as it introduces the themes of guilt and grief that haunt Habu throughout the narrative. Younger viewers who are sensitive to the death of a character they have grown attached to may be affected. Habu Joji undertakes a solo winter ascent of Everest's southwestern face, considered nearly impossible. The tension during this sequence is sustained and realistic: the cold, exhaustion, and constant mortal danger are portrayed with a restraint that makes them feel more oppressive. The film makes no attempt to reassure the viewer and the atmosphere remains heavy until the very end. Fukamachi is caught in a storm during the climb and finds himself in severe physical distress, unable to move forward and on the verge of dying from cold and exhaustion. This long and realistic sequence may be anxiety-inducing for younger viewers, as the danger feels credible and the odds of survival appear slim. Habu's final letter reveals that he had anticipated his own death as a possible outcome and accepted it with calm. This composed yet clear-eyed relationship with one's own mortality and self-chosen sacrifice may challenge pre-teenagers who are not yet ready to engage with such a portrayal of voluntary risk and accepted finitude.
Where to watch
Availability checked on Apr 03, 2026
About this title
- Format
- Feature film
- Year
- 2021
- Runtime
- 1h 35m
- Countries
- France, Luxembourg
- Original language
- FR
- Directed by
- Patrick Imbert
- Main cast
- Éric Herson-Macarel, Damien Boisseau, Elisabeth Ventura, Lazare Herson-Macarel, Kylian Rehlinger, François Dunoyer, Philippe Vincent, Luc Bernard, Marc Arnaud, Jérôme Keen
- Studios
- Julianne Films, Folivari, Melusine Productions, France 3 Cinéma, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Cinéma, Wild Bunch, Palatine Étoile 17, Cinémage 14 Développment, Indéfilms 8
Content barometer
Violence
3/5
Notable
Fear
3/5
Notable tension
Sexuality
0/5
None
Language
1/5
Mild
Narrative complexity
1/5
Accessible
Adult themes
0/5
None
Expert review
The Summit of the Gods is a French-Luxembourgish animated film with a grave and contemplative tone, adapted from Jiro Taniguchi's manga, following a Japanese reporter on an obsessive quest to locate a legendary missing climber and unravel the mystery surrounding George Mallory's camera. The film addresses adult themes with restraint: death on the mountain is a central element of the narrative, several climbers perish throughout the story, including a young apprentice who dies accidentally during a climb, and the lead character knowingly chooses a path he understands may cost him his life. These elements recur steadily throughout the film, carried by a melancholic atmosphere and a deep reflection on the meaning of life, grief, and obsession, without ever veering into spectacle or sensationalism. Parents watching with sensitive teenagers can use the film as a natural starting point for discussions about courage, acceptance of mortality, and passion as a driving force.
Synopsis
A photojournalist's obsessive quest for the truth about the first expedition to Mt. Everest leads him to search for an esteemed climber who went missing.
Difficult scenes
The death of a young apprentice climber who insisted on accompanying Habu during a difficult ascent is recounted in detail during the film. Although depicted without graphic violence, this moment carries significant emotional weight as it introduces the themes of guilt and grief that haunt Habu throughout the narrative. Younger viewers who are sensitive to the death of a character they have grown attached to may be affected. Habu Joji undertakes a solo winter ascent of Everest's southwestern face, considered nearly impossible. The tension during this sequence is sustained and realistic: the cold, exhaustion, and constant mortal danger are portrayed with a restraint that makes them feel more oppressive. The film makes no attempt to reassure the viewer and the atmosphere remains heavy until the very end. Fukamachi is caught in a storm during the climb and finds himself in severe physical distress, unable to move forward and on the verge of dying from cold and exhaustion. This long and realistic sequence may be anxiety-inducing for younger viewers, as the danger feels credible and the odds of survival appear slim. Habu's final letter reveals that he had anticipated his own death as a possible outcome and accepted it with calm. This composed yet clear-eyed relationship with one's own mortality and self-chosen sacrifice may challenge pre-teenagers who are not yet ready to engage with such a portrayal of voluntary risk and accepted finitude.