Directed by Martin Sandin, Maria Granberg lives to conquer the world’s highest mountains. It’s her way of trying to understand herself better and evolve as a person. It’s also a means of coping with the darkness that comes and goes in life. In September 2022, she is set to climb the 8163-meter high Manaslu in Nepal without supplemental oxygen. When the expedition, after several weeks, is on the verge of reaching the summit, the unthinkable happens, and reality leaves her with only one conceivable way out.
One of the rightly expected and often delivered elements when dealing with any story that involves mountain climbing, is an abundance of exceptional visuals and BRAVE – How the mountains saved my life is no exception. Martin Sandin brings into play a lot of satisfyingly expansive and naturally dazzling scenes. The directorial style moves between those vast visuals and an intimate, diary-esque journey. It’s a great balance to capture both the determination and risk these endeavours involve, as well as the very personal, family centric elements.
That’s one of the most surprising aspects of BRAVE, it builds an unexpected but touching sweetness. The exploration of Maria Granberg’s relationship with her father is filled with a sympathetic air, it would be hard not to relate to his intense worries that his daughter may embark on one of her adventures, never to return. Through that side of its exploration it creates a reflective atmosphere, both on the motivation and exceptional dedication it takes to achieve such heights and on the toll it takes. It delves into the psychological element which is a nice addition, both in the present and by dipping into the past.
Perhaps its only key weakness is the amount of information, it’s an inherent challenge with short film, how much you can include in less than twenty-five minutes. In that sense, it almost feels like an introduction to Maria Granberg’s story, that there was more to tell. However, there are also moments where it feels like a bigger context was needed to delve into the emotional and bigger picture ramifications. Especially in its climax, it moves on a little too fast, not quite giving this pivotal moment enough time to reflect its rather drastic nature.
BRAVE – How the mountains saved my life does justice to the almost unbelievable dedication it takes to achieve the challenges Maria Granberg sets for herself. It may be a psychology that we can’t all relate too, seemingly a rather crazy endeavour but the determination is inspiring. Sandin’s direction makes for a great balance of the natural landscapes and the personal touches to the story. The only thing that arguably holds it back is the level of detail, needing additional information to capture the larger picture and drive home its emotions.
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