Pasang Lhamu Sherpa

What an illuminating introduction to Pasang Lhasa Sherpa, the first Nepali woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1993. Pasang: In the Shadow of Everest is an inspirational, against-the-odds documentary that gives an unsung hero her due. But director Nancy Svendsen also crafts a fascinating look at the cultural and political climate of Nepal at the time. Women were second class citizens. Although women from India, France and Britain were among the adventurous climbers making the daring trek up and down Everest, (aided by Sherpa, the native ethnic minority in Nepal), Nepali women did not have the resources, institutional backing or financial support to do so. That’s what makes the story of Pasang’s quest so captivating and moving.

Pasang: In the Shadow of Everest is a fascinating and inspirational documentary about the power of one woman to challenge racism and sexism and achieve the status of becoming the first Nepalese woman to climb Mt. Everest. In a sea of privilege, foreigners are financially sponsored to make attempt after attempt and fail. with massive casualties to Sherpas, local climbing guides from Nepal who risk it all to help mostly foreign men make the climb year after year.