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Pura Vida (The Ridge)

Name: Pura Vida (The Ridge)
Director: Pablo Iraburu, Migueltxo Molina
Released: 2012
Duration: 85 min

Representation Score

7.5/10

Good

2012

Director

Pablo Iraburu, Migueltxo Molina

Runtime

85 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Pura Vida (The Ridge) is a humanistic documentary that shines through its international scope. Featuring a rescue mission involving climbers from ten different countries, the film effectively portrays a global, cross-cultural humanitarian effort. However, the film remains confined to a traditionally male-dominated space. The lack of female representation and the absence of LGBTQ+ narratives limit the diversity of characters. Despite this, the film excels in portraying human resilience and collective ability to act, avoiding harmful stereotypes by focusing on universal themes of survival.

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Category Breakdown

Does Pura Vida (The Ridge) have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not feature any LGBTQ+ characters or explore non-straight relationships. The story focuses on a high-altitude rescue mission involving male mountaineers.

How does Pura Vida (The Ridge) portray gender?

Fair

The film depicts a male-dominated environment typical of high-altitude expeditions. It does not provide any female representation or explore female leadership in the rescue efforts.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Pura Vida (The Ridge)?

Good

The film showcases a diverse group of mountaineers from ten different countries participating in a rescue mission. This international collaboration helps to break away from Western-centric hero clichés, emphasizing a collective, cross-cultural effort.

How does Pura Vida (The Ridge) represent religion and culture?

Good

The documentary highlights a universal philosophy of human willpower and resilience. It avoids specific religious or cultural references, focusing instead on the shared human struggle against nature.

Does Pura Vida (The Ridge) include disability representation?

Fair

The story focuses on a life-threatening physiological crisis at high altitude. Rather than treating the subject with pity, the film maintains his dignity and ability to act as an exceptional man.

Present on Screen

Highlights a diverse, multi-national team of climbers from ten different countries.
Avoids Western-centric clichés by presenting the rescue as a global, collaborative effort.
Maintains the dignity and ability to act of the central subject during a physical crisis.

Limited or Absent

Does not include any female representation or leadership in the mountaineering narrative.
Does not explore LGBTQ+ identities or characters.
Focuses on a heavily male-dominated demographic and setting.

Official Synopsis

On the south face of Annapurna, at 7,400 metres, Iñaki Ochoa de Olza is dying. His rope companion sounds the alarm. And, from the other side of the world, the biggest rescue attempt in the history of the Himalayas gets underway. For four days a dozen men including some of the best mountaineers in the world, from ten countries, set out to try to rescue their stricken comrade. Even beyond his peaks Iñaki is an exceptional man. As exceptional as the rescue attempt itself and the men who risked their lives to save him. Exceptional because their one driving rule is to live. To live in the only way possible: with pure intensity and honesty.

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