Defying The Storms And The Wind
Defying The Storms And The Wind
Mountain climbing. "In the foothills of the Pamirs, near Alma Ata, capital of the Kazakh Republic, is a base camp for mountain climbers who come from all parts of the country and from many foreign countries. The film is centered on an expedition of Soviet women, who attempted to climb to the top of Mount Lenin, in the face of winds at 132 meters per hour and an avalanche."
Defying The Storms And The Wind
Opening credits. Aerial views of snow covered mountains (from helicopter). Title, in Russian, "Defying the Storms and Winds", and credits.
Defying The Storms And The Wind
Opens with shot of man painting mountain landscape at foot of mtns. Cut to international camp at the base of Mount Lenin, shots of mountain climbers eating and packing their supplies for a long journey; panning shot of flags of Austria, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Lichtenstein, United States, France, Switzerland, West Germany & Japan; man sells dried fish to climbers.
Defying The Storms And The Wind
The climb begins: great shots of groundhog on rock; men carrying big packs hike the snow mountain slowly with the assistance of walking sticks and boots with long, sharp metal cleats (ascending the arduous mountain). Mountain camp: setting up the tents and congregating, shots of Austrian mountaineer Wolfgang Ochs (sp?).
Defying The Storms And The Wind
Introduction of international group of women mountain climbers, led by Heidi Luti; they climb Mt Lenin, interspersed with nice shots mountain peaks merging with clouds, snowy cliffs. Introductions of the women hikers at camp, eating and combing their hair. More shots snowy mountains, precipices, gorges. The women get lost in a blizzard; shots of some small avalanches, men talking on radios, hikers huddled in blustery camps (snow drifts).
Defying The Storms And The Wind
Back at the base camp people are in a stir: American climbers talking on a walkie-talkie; shots of a tremendous avalanche, a cloud of snow emersing the mountain side and a photo is shown of an American climber who has been killed in the avalanche; the base camp is shown again at night with all the tents lit up inside. Climbers hike through the storm to rescue the stranded teams (rescue team); they support a fatigued Heidi Ludi on their return.
Defying The Storms And The Wind
A helicopter rescue mission is undertaken, various shots of the helicopter flying among the mountains, dropping off supplies to stranded teams, picking up climbers on stretchers. Americans return to a warm welcome at the base camp; they say "they feel they are very close to Russian people" which the narrator reiterates.
Defying The Storms And The Wind
Nice ominous TLS of the mountains and rocky cliff faces; the narrator tells us that all 8 Soviet women died, shots of the reminants of one of their camps. A solemn base camp holds a service to honor the dead. Narrator closes out the movie, more shots of mountain climbers ascending mountain, interspersed with more shots of the mountains in the clouds and mist.