Mt. Elbrus: Mountain with 1,000 Mountains Inside It

Mt. Elbrus is the highest mountain in Europe, and so challenging that it claimed the lives of 24 people the year before the expedition chronicled here took place. This film follows an unidentified group of climbers who gather in Moscow, progress south to the Caucasus Mountains, and establish a base camp in the beautiful Baksan River Valley. Along the way, viewers glimpse Russian life and hear some generalities about Russian politics. After a brief treatment of the acclimatization process, the troop climbs to the summit (a few distance shots of the climbers provide the action) and a few individuals make some trite comments on the experience. Some questions: Who are the climbers? Where do they come from? What were the dates of the expedition? What motivated the participants? What difficulties did they encounter? Without background or context, this drama-less program has no significant value as sociology, sport or adventure. Not recommended. Aud: I, J, H, P. (J. Reed)