A stunningly shot and emotionally engaging Australian backed documentary, the BAFTA nominated Sherpa as directed by filmmaker to watch Jennifer Peedom and her willing crew is one of the years must see docos as well as must see films perse thanks to its well-constructed looked at both the almost indescribable appeal of climbing the world's most famous mountain Everest and the oft-unsung heroes of the successful climbs, the Sherpas.

Focusing her attention on Phurba Tashi Sherpa who at the time of filming this documentary had successfully climbed to the Everest peak over 20 times, Peedom captures some otherworldly and magnificent images of a landscape filled with beauty, allurement and potential death and backed by the ever good musical ruminations of acclaimed Animal Kingdom and The Rover scorer Antony Partos, Sherpa has a polish and sheen not often found in home-grown documentaries or documentaries of any heritage at that matter and from the film's opening minutes through to its last important stanza Sherpa will gripe the viewer and not let go.

Becoming one of those film crews that were there at the right place and at the right time, Sherpa's initial focus shifts as the film draws on and tragedy strikes the mountain, a tragedy that in many ways reshaped the way business was done and is to be done on the mountain that draws so many people to it each year often at exorbitant prices.

Sherpa's who have long been the smiling and gracious whipping boys to Everest's various tourists and wannabe heroes, are here given airtime from both the new to the old (an interesting aspect to the film is the look back at Sherpa Tenzing Norgay) and Peedom and her team shine a light on these often fearless climbers and guides that would risk their lives dozens of times per season to make sure those that have paid to have their experience are given every chance conceivable to make the trek successfully, even if some of the Sherpas here aren't overly affable.

Hot off the heels of the good if not great Everest feature from last year, Sherpa is an outstanding documentary that is one of the highlights of Australia's recent output in the medium that includes the must see All This Mayhem and That Sugar Film and Peedom has once again marked herself down as a real talent to watch, while those adventurers looking for an insightful look at one of the world's natural wonders owe it to themselves to watch this eye opening film experience.

4 ½ yaks out of 5

On the one hand, we have the overprivileged, looking to comfortably conquer Everest and willing to pay vast sums of money to goodness knows who, we learn of the devastation of their not being able to complete their climb and how, as such, a disaster is an inconvenience. On the other hand we have the local Sherpas looking to negotiate fairer conditions of work for their community, after decades of struggle and loss of life.

The comments made about the "mob" of Sherpas and how they might be dealt with through their "owners" showed such a old-fashioned spirit of command that we are left wishing these climbers had continued their journey, on their own, each carrying their necessities for themselves.

I watched this film expecting a documentary on life for Sherpa's on the mountain. However what I experienced was a great insight into the actual lives of the Sherpa's and how they are treated by the westerners. Unsurprisingly some tourists were quite rude and arrogant towards the Sherpa's, but what I did not expect to see was the complete lack of integrity and regard shown to the Sherpas by the expedition organisers. Richard Brice is a complete callous individual and his attitude after the avalanche was unconscionable. Making up lies and spreading rumours about the Sherpas trying to turn them against each other is vicious. I am glad that Phurba saw through it all. SOme of the tourists are very rude, especially the Americans. The lack of sympathy shown to the Sherpas after the avalanche by some of the tourists and expedition leaders is horrendous. Seeing the little boy cry after hearing that his dad died on the mountain was truly heartbreaking to watch.

I am very glad I watched this documentary and am grateful to the people who made it as it has given me greater insight into the way humans treat each other in times of disaster. And it is not pretty.