The narrative of Lhakpa Sherpa, a woman who holds the world record for most climbs of Mount Everest, is astounding. Lucy Walker's film, "Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa", showcases Lhakpa's incredible feats on the mountain but also her journey from an uneducated girl in a Nepalese village to a world-renowned climber while enduring a physically abusive marriage.
Walker adopts an unobtrusive approach to filming, highlighting Lhakpa's vibrant character that is brimming with warmth, sincerity, and humble pride in her accomplishments. Despite her broken English, Lhakpa displays a unique, at times poetic, way of describing her experiences. Primarily set in Connecticut, the film follows Lhakpa's life, alternating between her present life and her climbing expeditions.
The film exceptionally portrays Lhakpa as a cultural icon, with a carefully structured narrative that presents Lhakpa’s gradual realization of her personal strength. Lhakpa’s journey began as a porter, disguising herself as a boy with the ambition of climbing. Amidst stunning high-altitude visuals, Lhakpa’s ascents serve as the film's backbone, with the technicalities of mountaineering minimized to maintain focus on her life story.
In 2000 became the first woman to climb and safely return from Everest, marking a cornerstone in her journey. However, her personal life was fraught with hardship. After a failed relationship, she married Romanian climber George Dijmarescu and moved to Hartford, where they worked as Everest guides. Dijmarescu’s violent outbursts, including one instance where he left Lhakpa unconscious, marked the darkest moments of the documentary.
Lhakpa eventually left her marriage, with no money and no power, after Dijmarescu assaulted her in front of their children, landing her in the hospital. Despite these tribulations, Lhakpa persisted and continued her climbing career. She expresses in the film, "Everest is my doctor. Fix my soul."
While the film remembers to respect Lhakpa's privacy, it still misses out on telling certain facets of her life. However, these exclusions do not detract from the inspiring presence Lhakpa radiates, which she hopes inspires other women. Even her daughter Sunny, sharing her abusive childhood experiences, acknowledges the strength demonstrated by her mother.
