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In 1984, Bulgarian mountaineers summited Everest via the West Ridge – the deadliest route, also known as ‘The Cruel Way.’
Mountaineers from around the world have tried to replicate this Bulgarian achievement. None have succeeded.
Forty years later, the last climbers to reach the summit via the West Ridge remain the Bulgarians. This is their story.
Coming soon
Welcomed home as heroes, 40 years later the veterans of Everest ’84 recount, in candid interviews, what lay hidden behind their scars and the footsteps they left there, where one looks into the eyes of ‘Mother of the Gods.’
Why did Hristo Prodanov deviate from the expedition’s plan and push ahead of everyone in the assault on the summit? And what was the fatal mistake that cost him his life?
What saved Ivan Valchev and Metodi Savov on the night of May 9 – the only people ever to spend a night in the open at 8,700 meters, without a tent or oxygen?
In the ‘Death Zone,’ where no one wants to drift off… because no one wakes up.
How did Nikolay Petkov and Kiril Doskov reach Everest in a time considered impossible? And why did they have to summit it twice?
HOW AND WHY DOES THE MOUNTAIN ‘TAKE’ SOME, WHILE ‘SAVING’ OTHERS?
WHAT BINDS PEOPLE TOGETHER AT SUCH HEIGHTS, WHERE OXYGEN IS SCARCE, THE BRAIN WORKS WITH DIFFICULTY, AND A PERSON IS STRIPPED TO THEIR ESSENCE?
WHY DID A CRISIS ERUPT AMONG THE CLIMBERS THAT ALMOST DERAILED THE EXPEDITION?
Previously unreleased audio recordings will reveal the truth about those dramatic days – a truth that remained buried for 40 years by the regime and the egos of the then-powerful figures in alpinism. Until today.
We are thrilled to announce that “The Cruel Way” has been officially selected for the International Competition at the Krakow Mountain Festival. We look forward to presenting the film to a Polish audience on December 7th at 10:00 AM in SALA GŁÓWNA. The Krakow Mountain Festival is a cornerstone of European mountain culture. What began as a passionate idea two
“The Cruel Way” has been selected for the Official Competition at the Golden Rhyton Documentary and Animation Film Festival. Join us for the special screening at Lucky House of Cinema in Plovdiv on Friday, December 19th, at 4:00 PM. We can’t wait to see you there!
През 1984 година, в чест на 40 годишнината от социалистическата революция, се организира първата българска експедиция към най-високия връх на планетата – Чомолунгма, известен като Еверест. 18 алпинисти се готвят да щурмуват върха по Западния гребен – най-смъртоносният маршрут, известен като „Жестокият път“. Христо Проданов, Иван Вълчев, Методи Савов, Николай Петков и Кирил Досков са първите, дръзнали да направят опит, равносилен на лудост, атакувайки Еверест по интегралния /изцяло по ръба/ маршрут на Западния гребен, неизминат от никого дотогава и от никого след това.
Изключителното усилие е съпътствано от героични дела и взаимна помощ, но и от фатални грешки и кризи в отношенията между алпинистите, които остават скрити повече от четири десетилетия. До днес. Непубликувани досега записи от радиовръзките и откровените разкази на главните участници в събитията ще разкрият всички тайни на този велик български момент.
„Жестокият път“ – това е историята на българската експедиция до Еверест през 1984 г. Цялата истина. 40 години по-късно.
In 1984, in honor of the 40th anniversary of the socialist revolution, the first Bulgarian expedition to the highest peak on the planet – Chomolungma, known as Everest – was organized. Eighteen climbers prepared to assault the summit via the West Ridge, the deadliest route, known as the “Cruel Way.” Hristo Prodanov, Ivan Valchev, Metodi Savov, Nikolay Petkov, and Kiril Doskov were the first to dare to attempt what was tantamount to madness, attacking Everest via the integral route (entirely along the ridge) of the West Ridge, untraversed by anyone before or since.
This extraordinary endeavor was accompanied by heroic deeds and mutual assistance, but also by fatal errors and crises in the relationships between the climbers, which have remained hidden for more than four decades. Until today. Previously unreleased recordings of radio communications and the candid accounts of the main participants in the events will reveal all the secrets of this great Bulgarian moment.
“The Cruel Way” – this is the story of the Bulgarian expedition to Everest in 1984. The uncensored truth. 40 years later.
