She was initially sceptical, but Nelson woman Jan Arnold is impressed with the big-screen movie adaptation about her husband’s deadly journey to the peak of Mount Everest.
Arnold spoke at an advanced screening of the film, Everest, in Nelson on Wednesday evening. She was overall pleased with the portrayal of the story about her husband Rob Hall, one of eight people who died on Mount Everest after being caught in a violent storm in 1996.
“At first I was sceptical they could provide a fair telling of this story,” she said.
“But they have produced a movie that does capture the essence of what happened in 1996.”
One of the only things she felt was missed from the final product was the story of the sherpas – skilled mountaineers who worked to rescue Hall and his companions when they became trapped.
“[The sherpas] were the backbone of [Hall’s expedition], Rob really valued them,” she said.
“That should have been bigger [in the movie] but I say that in a really heartfelt way – there were many unsung heroes but I’m glad they covered the ones they have.”
The sherpas who tried to help Hall sent Arnold a letter of sympathy when they knew they could not save him.
“It was so beautiful what they wrote, they are extraordinary people,” she said.
She said she felt slightly sheepish that her and Hall’s story took centre stage in the film, but understood why the screen-writers had focussed on them.
Arnold recently returned to Nelson after visiting Venice and Los Angeles where she attended the premiere and walked the red carpet with the film’s actors.
“I had some really lovely interactions with the celebrities… they are people just like everyone else.”
The almost billion dollar film features well-known actors, including Keira Knightley who plays Arnold herself. She was impressed with Knightley’s portrayal.
“The director told me once, “only you can play you” but it’s their job to find someone who captures the essence of [the character] and [Knightley] did that.”
“I did say at one point, if only I could look that good while I was crying.”
She was also impressed with actor Jason Clarke, who played Hall. Clarke visited Arnold in Nelson in his preparation for the role, spending two days with her to find out more about the mountaineer.
“He was bang on,” said Arnold.
Arnold attended the overseas premiere’s with her daughter Sarah, 19. Arnold was pregnant with Sarah at the time of the tragedy and she was born nine weeks after Hall died.
Real-life photos of Hall and her family at the end of the film was “quite emotional to see”, said Arnold.
The advanced screening at State Cinema was sold out, and all proceeds from the evening went to the Himalayan
Trust Charity.
Source: stuff.co.nz
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