Beyond the Edge

Canadian-born New Zealand director Leanne Pooley makes audiences feel they are making the tortuous and historic climb of Everest with Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay with her gorgeous film about the first men to reach the summit in 1953. Thrilling and dramatic, Pooley couples rare archival footage and impressive dramatic recreation...

– Linda Barnard in The Toronto Star, 27 August 2013

I think it's all really a matter of challenge. Not so much challenge, only with the mountain, but challenge with oneself. Seeing if you can force yourself to overcome your fears and, hopefully, ultimately get to the top.

– Ed Hillary

Everything had been calculated to the last detail. Seven and a half tonnes of material, 443 packages, all numbered and the contents of each listed down to the last matchbox or needle.

– Charles Wylie, Deputy Leader, 1953 Erebus expedition

We did come from a different background, there's no doubt.

– George Lowe on the differences between him and Ed Hillary, and the British members of the 1953 Erebus expedition

The whole thing is a race against time. There was a constant fear that the monsoon would come.

– Mick Conefrey, Author of book Everest 1953