The Summit of the Gods (film)

Last updated

The Summit of the Gods
The Summit of the Gods film poster.jpg
Promotional poster
Directed by Patrick Imbert  [ fr ]
Written by
  • Patrick Imbert
  • Magali Pouzol
  • Jean-Charles Ostorero
Based on The Summit of the Gods
by Jiro Taniguchi
Produced by
Music by Amine Bouhafa  [ fr ]
Production
companies
Distributed by
  • Diaphana Distribution (France)
  • Wild Bunch (international)
Release dates
Running time
90 minutes
Countries
  • France
  • Luxembourg
LanguageFrench

The Summit of the Gods (French : Le Sommet des Dieux) is a 2021 French-language animated adventure drama film based on the Japanese manga series of the same name by Jiro Taniguchi. The film was directed by Patrick Imbert; it was first shown at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival in July 2021 before a full theatrical release in September 2021.

Contents

Plot

In 1924, British mountaineers George Mallory and Andrew Irvine attempted to climb Mount Everest and were never seen again. Seventy years later, Makoto Fukamachi, a young Japanese reporter, encounters a mysterious mountain climber named Habu Joji, in whose hands Fukamachi thinks he sees Mallory's camera, which might reveal if Mallory and his companion really were the first to climb Everest.

Fukamachi tries to find more information on Habu, researching Habu's past climbs and interviewing former acquaintances. He learns of Habu's tendency to climb solo, which intensified after the accidental death of a young mentee who insisted on climbing with Habu. Fukamachi becomes more obsessed with finding Habu and begins fitness training in preparation for mountaineering. His fixation culminates in a trip to Nepal in search of Habu. Fukumachi eventually finds him at a hut near Mount Everest where Habu initially pushes him away. Habu eventually gives in to the photographer's request to document Habu's record attempt--a solo climb of Everest's southwestern face in the harsh winter season. Fukamachi agrees to the solo climb rules which prohibit him from speaking to or assisting Habu during the climb, and vice versa.

The pair set out for the climb, with Fukamachi following Habu. However, a storm causes Fukamachi to fall behind where he is overwhelmed by pain and exhaustion. Habu doubles back to save him, consequently forfeiting his solo climb attempt. Fukamachi recovers and returns to the base without Habu, who carries on with his journey. Habu reaches the summit. After days of waiting with no sign of Habu, Fukamachi returns to Japan from the base carrying Mallory's camera and a letter, both passed along from Habu via his sherpa. Habu writes that if Fukamachi is reading the letter, Habu died after continuing his attempt to reach the summit, and he did so with no regrets.

In the end, Fukamachi develops the camera film. Having learned why Habu and other mountaineers keep going back to mountaineering despite the dangers, he eventually returns to summit Everest just like Habu.

Production

The film is based on a manga series of the same name, written and illustrated by Jiro Taniguchi, which was itself based on a 1998 novel by Baku Yumemakura. [1] In January 2015, a French-language CG animation film adaptation of the manga was announced. [2] It was originally set to be produced by Julianne Films, Walking The Dog, and Mélusine Productions, with direction from Éric Valli and Jean-Christophe Roger. [2] In June 2020, it was announced the film would instead be directed by Patrick Imbert, with scripts by Imbert, Magali Pouzol, and Jean-Charles Ostorero, and music composed by Amine Bouhafa. It was also announced the film would be distributed by Diaphana Distribution in France and Wild Bunch internationally. [3] The film was first shown at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival on July 15, 2021, [4] before a full theatrical release in France starting on September 22, 2021. [5]

Internationally, Netflix released the film in theaters in the United States starting on November 24, 2021, and in the United Kingdom on November 26, 2021. The film was made available for streaming on November 30, 2021. [6]

Reception

Carlos Aguilar from TheWrap praised the film for its plot and animation. [7] Michael Nordine from Variety also praised the plot and animation, specifically for being realistic. [8] Benjamin Benoit from IGN also gave the film praise for being a great adaptation of the original source material. [9] On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 100% based on 36 reviews, with an average rating of 7.8/10. [10]

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryRecipientResult
2022 Lumières Award Best Animated FilmThe Summit of the GodsWon [11]
César Awards Best Animated Film Won [12]
Annie Awards Best Animated Feature – Independent Nominated [13]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Silent Service</i> Japanese manga series by Kaiji Kawaguchi

The Silent Service is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kaiji Kawaguchi. It was published in Kodansha's Weekly Morning manga magazine from 1988 to 1996 and collected in 32 tankōbon volumes.

<i>Saint Seiya</i> Japanese manga series

Saint Seiya, also known as Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac or simply Knights of the Zodiac, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masami Kurumada. It was serialized in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1985 to 1990, with its chapters collected in 28 tankōbon volumes. The story follows five mystical warriors called the Saints who fight wearing sacred sets of armor named "Cloths", the designs of which derive from the various constellations the characters have adopted as their destined guardian symbols. The Saints have sworn to defend the reincarnation of the Olympian goddess Athena in her battle against other gods who want to dominate Earth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Production I.G</span> Japanese animation studio

Production I.G, Inc. is a Japanese animation studio and production enterprise. Headquartered in Musashino, Tokyo Production I.G was founded on December 15, 1987, by producer Mitsuhisa Ishikawa and character designer Takayuki Goto as "I.G Tatsunoko", a branch studio of the animation giant Tatsunoko Production, changing its name to the current Production I.G in September 1993. The letters I and G derive from the names of the company founders. Since 2007, Production I.G is a subsidiary of the IG Port holding company. Ishikawa was president and CEO of the studio until August 2022 when that position was given to George Wada with Ishikawa remaining as chairman of the company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toei Animation</span> Japanese animation studio

Toei Animation Co., Ltd. is a Japanese animation studio primarily controlled by its namesake Toei Company. It has produced numerous series, including Sally the Witch, GeGeGe no Kitarō, Mazinger Z, Galaxy Express 999, Cutie Honey, Dr. Slump, Dragon Ball, Saint Seiya, Sailor Moon, Slam Dunk, Digimon, One Piece, Toriko, World Trigger, The Transformers, and the Pretty Cure series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Irvine (mountaineer)</span> British mountaineer (1902–1924)

Andrew Comyn "Sandy" Irvine was an British mountaineer who took part in the 1924 British Everest Expedition, the third British expedition to the world's highest mountain, Mount Everest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telecom Animation Film</span> Japanese animation studio

Telecom Animation Film Co., Ltd. is a Japanese animation studio founded on May 19, 1975, and currently affiliated with TMS Entertainment. The company produces television series, films, and original video animations (OVA).

<i>The Summit of the Gods</i> Manga by Jiro Taniguchi

The Summit of the Gods is a manga series written and illustrated by Jiro Taniguchi. Based on a 1998 novel by Baku Yumemakura, it follows Fukamachi, a photographer who finds a camera supposedly belonging to George Mallory, a mountaineer who went missing on Mount Everest, and goes on a mountain-climbing adventure along with his friend Habu Joji.

<i>Golden Kamuy</i> Japanese manga series

Golden Kamuy is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Satoru Noda. It was serialized in Shueisha's seinen manga magazine Weekly Young Jump from August 2014 to April 2022, with its chapters collected in thirty-one tankōbon volumes. The story follows Saichi Sugimoto, a veteran of the early twentieth-century Russo-Japanese War, and his quest to find a huge fortune of gold of the Ainu people, helped by a young Ainu girl named Asirpa. The Ainu language in the story is supervised by Hiroshi Nakagawa, an Ainu language linguist from Chiba University.

<i>Blame!</i> (film) 2017 Japanese animated film by Hiroyuki Seshita

Blame! is a 2017 Japanese animated science fiction action film directed by Hiroyuki Seshita, produced by Polygon Pictures, written by Sadayuki Murai and based on the manga series Blame!, which was written and illustrated by Tsutomu Nihei. It was released globally by Netflix on May 20, 2017.

<i>Land of the Lustrous</i> (TV series) Japanese anime television series

Land of the Lustrous is a 2017 anime television series based on Haruko Ichikawa's manga series of the same name. It is produced by the computer graphics (CG) animation studio Orange and directed and written by Takahiko Kyōgoku and Toshiya Ono, respectively. It follows the Lustrous – immortal humanoid life forms who are the embodiments of gemstones – who defend themselves against the Lunarians, who seek to harvest their bodies for decorations. Phosphophyllite is the youngest of the Lustrous, and is given the task to assemble a natural history since they are too brittle to fight.

<i>Beastars</i> Japanese manga series

Beastars is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Paru Itagaki. It was serialized in Akita Shoten's Weekly Shōnen Champion from September 2016 to October 2020, with its chapters collected in 22 tankōbon volumes. The manga is licensed for English release in North America by Viz Media. The story takes place in a modern world of civilized, anthropomorphic animals with a cultural divide between carnivores and herbivores, and where eating meat is strictly illegal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GEMBA (studio)</span> Japanese animation studio

GEMBA Inc. is a Japanese animation studio subsidiary of Digital Frontier that specializes in the production of 3DCG animation and anime.

<i>Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!</i> Japanese manga series

Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Sumito Ōwara. It has been serialized in Shogakukan's seinen manga magazine Monthly Big Comic Spirits since 2016 and has been collected in seven tankōbon volumes as of July 2022.

Maho Film Co., Ltd., is a Japanese animation studio founded on May 29, 2018 in Suginami-ku.

Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness is a Japanese horror-action CGI original net animation miniseries based on the video game series Resident Evil by Capcom. The series stars Resident Evil 2 protagonists Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield.

<i>Hula Fulla Dance</i> 2021 Japanese animated film by Seiji Mizushima

Hula Fulla Dance is a 2021 Japanese animated film produced by Bandai Namco Pictures and directed by Seiji Mizushima and Shinya Watada. It premiered in Japanese theaters in December 2021.

Natsuko Takahashi is a Japanese anime screenwriter. After learning about the profession of screenwriting in middle school, in university she entered a contest. Although her entry did not fit the theme of the contest, the examiners liked it so much that they gave her a position working on television dramas.

Makoto Fukami is a Japanese manga artist, novelist, and screenwriter. He started writing manga in 1999 and since has had multiple of his series adapted into other media. In addition to manga, he also did screenwriting for Psycho-Pass and its first film Psycho-Pass: The Movie in 2012 and 2015 respectively, both of which have been well received.

References

  1. ↑ Garrity, Shaenon K. (November 27, 2014). "Summit of the Gods – House of 1000 Manga". Anime News Network . Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  2. 1 2 Ressler, Karen (January 20, 2015). "Summit of the Gods Manga Gets French CG Animated Film". Anime News Network . Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  3. ↑ Pineda, Rafael (June 18, 2020). "French CG Film Summit of the Gods Unveils New Teaser, 2021 Debut". Anime News Network . Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  4. ↑ Pineda, Rafael (July 4, 2021). "Belle Film Makes World Premiere as Cannes Official Selection on July 15". Anime News Network . Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  5. ↑ Mateo, Alex (July 29, 2021). "French CG Film Summit of the Gods Opens on September 22". Anime News Network . Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  6. ↑ Milligan, Mercedes (August 31, 2021). "Netflix Acquires Patrick Imbert's 'The Summit of the Gods' for Cinemas & Streaming". Animation Magazine . Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  7. ↑ Aguilar, Carlos (October 22, 2021). "'The Summit of the Gods' Film Review: Breathtaking Mountain-Climbing Story Captured as Only Animation Can". TheWrap . Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  8. ↑ Nordine, Michael (October 22, 2021). "'The Summit of the Gods' Review: Mount Everest Is No Less Imposing When It's Animated". Variety . Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  9. ↑ Benoit, Benjamin (September 21, 2021). "Le Sommet des Dieux – Critique". IGN (in French). Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  10. ↑ "The Summit of the Gods". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  11. ↑ Grater, Tom (January 18, 2022). "'Happening' & 'Annette' Win Big At France's Lumiere Awards". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  12. ↑ Zahed, Ramin (February 26, 2022). "'The Summit of the Gods' Wins César for Best Animated Film". Animation Magazine. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  13. ↑ Pineda, Rafael (December 22, 2021). "Belle, Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko Anime Films Nominated for Annie Awards". Anime News Network . Retrieved December 30, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.