''The Climb'' is a dramatic film directed by Bob Swaim starring

John Hurt Sir John Vincent Hurt (22 January 1940 – 25 January 2017) was an English actor whose career spanned over five decades. Hurt was regarded as one of Britain's finest actors. Director David Lynch described him as "simply the greatest actor in t ...

, Gregory Smith,

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, Marla Sokoloff, and

Sarah Buxton Sarah Jane Buxton (born July 3, 1980) is an American country music singer, formerly signed to the independent Lyric Street Records. Between 2006 and 2008, she issued three singles from an extended play titled '' Almost My Record'', in addition t ...

. An unlikely pair develops a relationship in search of freedom from the inequities and colliding with the inevitabilities of life. It was re-released on DVD 21 August 2007.

Plot

John Langer (

), a crusty old civil engineer, has an arsenal full of memories. With irreverent wit, he rattles on, in his irascible humorous style, burning his spicy stories into the imagination of a young neighbour kid, Danny Himes ( Gregory Smith). Danny is a gifted, spirited athlete with something to prove. Worldly, old man Langer has turned his back on proving anything at all. Langer and Danny seem an unlikely pair, but their relationship soon turns from young caregiver/caretaker to student/mentor to comrades on a quest to free themselves individually from life's inequities and inevitabilities. It is post

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. Danny's father, Earl (

), did not serve in the military and is considered a coward. Danny excels to overcome his father's reputation while Earl is actually more a man than the town knows.

Cast

Reception

Awards

* The UNICEF Award – Berlin German * Winner of the Jury Grand Prix – Vienna Film Festival * Pierrot D'or Grand Prix – Pierrot Gourmand Film Festival * Special Mention – Montreal Film Festival * The Prix du Public – Giffoni Film Festival * Best Picture – New Zealand Film Award * Official Viewer's Choice – Temecula Valley Intern'l Film Festival * Best Action Adventure – Houston Film Festival * Best Action Adventure – Flagstaff Film Festival

External links

The Climb – The Official DVD Site
* 1999 films 1999 independent films Films directed by Bob Swaim New Zealand independent films 1999 drama films 1990s English-language films New Zealand drama films {{NewZealand-film-stub