Am 30. Januar 1959 soll es Cesare Maestri und dem Tiroler Toni Egger als Ersten gelungen sein, die mehr als 3.000 Meter hohe Granitnadel des Cerro Torre im Süden Patagoniens zu besteigen. Beim Abstieg verunglückte Egger tödlich und Maestri konnte nicht beweisen, dass sie tatsächlich den Gipfel erreicht hatten. Reinhold Messners Film folgt den Spuren Maestris und Eggers.
Le 30 janvier 1959, l’Italien Cesare Maestri et l’Autrichien Toni Egger partent à l’assaut du Cerro Torre, un sommet situé en Patagonie et jugé alors tout bonnement inatteignable. Toni Egger sera emporté par une avalanche à la descente et Cesare Maestri ne parviendra jamais à prouver qu’ils avaient réussi à atteindre le sommet. Le célèbre alpiniste italien Reinhold Messner tente d’éclaircir le mystère de cette ascension tragique.
"Cerro Torre" is about the first ascent of Cerro Torre in Patagonia, Argentina. There is chaos, storm and avalanches. There were two, but only one man descends. Perhaps he is loosing his mind, but he doesn't want to die. He keeps peeking after his comrade. Will he come back from the abyss? No, there's only the wind, the snow drift. It is February 3, 1959, the half-dead is Cesare Maestri, found huddeld in the snow later by a member of the expedition. His partner Toni Egger became a victim of the mountain. Had Egger and Maestri reached the "almost unreal giant pillar", the "most difficult mountain in the world"? - As they claim! All indications say: No! The ice ax of Toni Egger, found in 1974 at the edge of the glacier, is proof enaugh that not. 1970 - more than one decade later - Maestri climbs again with Cesarino Faber, who came up with an incredible story that is probably far beyond the truth. Reinhold Messner met with the remainig witnesses and solves the last secret of Cerro Torre.
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