Tenzing

Everyone is familiar with Edmund Hillary being the first person to summit Mount Everest in 1953. Who people likely don’t know much about is the man who stood alongside him. That person was Tenzing Norgay (Genden Phuntsok), a gifted Tibetan climber who dreamt of reaching the mountain’s peak since he was a child. His story is brought to the screen by director Jennifer Peedom and screenwriter Luke Davies in Apple TV+’s Tenzing. Part adventure movie, part spiritual journey, there’s a sweeping sense of majesty to this feature as it shifts the perspective to the cultural and emotional connection that Tenzing has with the mountain. Despite a strong cast and incredible visuals, the script plays everything far too safely, only ever hinting at underlying themes of colonisation and prejudice.

To Tenzing, the mountain is Chomolungma, a sacred goddess whose presence dominates the landscape. Scaling it is therefore the ultimate way for him to connect with nature and his national identity, while the British view reaching the summit as an obstacle to be conquered. The mountain’s grand scale and sense of awe reflect how the protagonist views it, something that’s reinforced further by the dizzying score from composer Rebekka Karijord. One shot of Hillary (Tom Hiddleston) and Tenzing approaching the peak, their footprints in the untouched snow trailing behind them, is especially breathtaking.

Phuntsok and Hiddleston are delightful together. Although their friendship is never the main focus, the pair’s rapport is infectiously charming throughout. Part of what connects the characters is their status as outsiders. Not only are Tenzing and New Zealander Hillary not seen as equal members of the British climbing team, but Tenzing, not being a native Sherpa, is also looked down upon by the men under his command. Though the script occasionally prods at these larger themes through dialogue, the adversity the protagonist faces is treated as another hurdle for him to overcome.

Rounding out the cast is a marvellous Willem Dafoe as expedition leader Colonel John Hunt and Thinley Lhamo, who gives a heartfelt turn as Tenzing’s wife Dawa during intermittent flashbacks. Their romance becomes the force that spurs Tenzing to the summit, though not enough time is given to their relationship for the emotional beats to land as intended.

Tenzing is an often stunning but slightly underdeveloped feature. Its greatest success is that it allows audiences to see this remarkable human achievement from a different viewpoint.

Andrew Murray

Tenzing is released on Apple TV+ on 16^th October 2026.

Watch the trailer for Tenzing here: