You think you’ve seen it all with Everest docs, but “Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa” will make you rethink what it means to be a true badass.
Lucy Walker delivers a raw, unfiltered look at a woman who can’t write and scrubs dishes at Whole Foods.
Yet she’s summited Everest ten times.
Now that’s the definition of grit.
I rank it #3 on my list of “Best Everest Documentaries” (now up to 12!).
Note: Thanks to Noah Kagan and Tim Ferriss for moving this up in my queue.
Trailer for “Mountain Queen: The Summits Of Lhakpa Sherpa”
Watch “Mountain Queen: The Summits Of Lhakpa Sherpa”
You can watch “Mountain Queen” on Netflix at https://www.netflix.com/title/81719138
Ratings:
- My Rating: 93/100
- IMDB Rating: 7.7 /10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 95/100 (Users); 100/100 (Critics)
Release Date: September 8, 2023 (Toronto Film Festival); and July 31, 2024 (Netflix)
My Review of “Mountain Queen: The Summits Of Lhakpa Sherpa”
I’ve watched a lot of Everest docs and Lhakpa Sherpa’s story is right up with any of them.
Lucy Walker’s “Mountain Queen: The Summits Of Lhakpa Sherpa” is a journey through the highs and lows of a woman who refuses to be defined by her circumstances.
This is not just a documentary about climbing Mount Everest; it’s a doc that captures the essence of human grit and resilience.
Walker, who gave us “Waste Land” and “Blindsight,” returns with a gripping narrative that intertwines Lhakpa’s record-breaking achievements with her everyday struggles.
At 105 minutes, the film’s pacing is relentless — just like Lhakpa’s own life.
Mount Everest Record Holder
Lhakpa Sherpa is not just any climber. She’s the woman who has summited Everest…wait for it… :
Ten times!
Her most record-breaking ascent May 12, 2022 is covered in detail.
But this doc isn’t just about the numbers; it’s about the heart behind them.
Lhakpa is a single mother, a survivor of domestic abuse, and a dishwasher at Whole Foods in West Hartford, Connecticut.
She toggles between climbing the world’s highest peak to scrubbing dishes to provide for her two daughters, Sunny and Shiny.
The doc opens with archival footage from Lhakpa’s first successful Everest climb in 2000, where she became the first Nepali woman to summit and descend alive.
The footage is grainy but powerful (we get better quality footage later — see below).
This sets the stage for the challenges she’s faced, not just from the mountain but from society and personal demons.
It’s a reminder that the summit is almost always just part of the story.
The darker sides of Lhakpa’s life.
Her marriage to George Dijmarescu is abusive.
He’s a man, the director suggests, who should have been her partner but instead became her tormentor.
The 2004 expedition is particularly harrowing.
Walker recounts how Dijmarescu’s violent behavior endangered the entire team, culminating in a physical assault on Lhakpa.
This isn’t just about climbing anymore; it’s about survival in every sense of the word.
Yet, Lhakpa perseveres.
Her Daughters
The documentary makes it clear that her strength isn’t just physical. It’s mental, emotional, and deeply rooted in her love for her daughters Sunny and Shiny.
Shiny accompanies her mother on part of the climb, a symbolic passing of the torch, while Sunny stays in Hartford, her concern for her mother’s safety palpable.
These family dynamics are the emotional core of the doc, illustrating the sacrifices Lhakpa makes, not just for herself, but for her daughters’ future.
I love the one scene of Shiny and Lhakpa on a Zoom call while Lhapka is on her Everest expedition.
Shiny humorously admits to her mom that she’s too embarrassed to tell her friends about her record-breaking climbs.
This relatable moment captures the classic teenage dilemma of wanting to blend in despite having a world-record holding parent.
It’s these small, intimate moments that make the doc so compelling. You’re not just watching a climber; you’re getting to know a mother, a survivor, a woman who refuses to give up, no matter the odds.
Beautiful Filmmaking
Walker’s choice of filming locations is as thoughtful as it is symbolic.
The sweeping vistas of Mount Everest contrast sharply with the modest confines of the Whole Foods kitchen where Lhakpa works.
The juxtaposition is jarring, yet it perfectly encapsulates the duality of Lhakpa’s life.
One minute she’s a record-breaking climber, the next she’s taking out the trash. It’s a stark reminder that greatness often goes unnoticed in the everyday.
The doc also shines a light on the cultural and societal expectations that Lhakpa has had to defy.
In Nepal, she’s both a hero and an outlier.
She’s a woman who dared to step outside the traditional roles prescribed to her.
The film includes interviews with other Sherpas and climbers, offering a broader context of what it means to be a female climber in a male-dominated field.
These perspectives enrich the narrative, adding layers to our understanding of Lhakpa’s journey.
But perhaps the most striking aspect of the doc is its raw honesty. Walker doesn’t romanticize Lhakpa’s story.
There are no sweeping orchestral scores or dramatic slow-motion shots.
Instead, we get the unvarnished truth—Lhakpa’s life is hard, and she’s often faced with impossible choices.
The film’s R rating is largely due to the language used in recounting some of these darker moments, but it never feels gratuitous.
It’s simply part of the story.
Walker’s direction is meticulous, her eye for detail evident in every frame.
The use of archival footage is particularly effective.
Walker uses archival footage to provide a visual timeline of Lhakpa’s evolution as a climber.
While the old footage is cool, the current-day footage will blow you away.
Cinematographers Devin Whetstone and Matthew’ Irving’s have breathtaking high-altitude shots of Lhakpa Sherpa’s perilous 2022 Everest ascent.
You get to see sweeping views of the Khumbu Icefall with its ferocious winds that climbers face during their ascent.
The IMAX will be jealous.
“Mountain Queen” is a deeply personal story.
It’s about one woman’s quest to redefine what’s possible, not just for herself, but for all the women (especially mothers) who will come after her.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc