‘North Face’

Between Oscar hopefuls squeezing back into theaters and the requisite big bad movies out there, don’t overlook the extraordinary adventure and nefarious political storms of “North Face.” Set in 1936, it’s based on an actual attempt by German boyhood friends to be the first to scale the monster known as Eiger. While the Nazis were keen on these country boys succeeding, the climbers care only about the mountain. Beautifully shot in a gritty documentary style, if you let it, Eiger’s unrelenting cold and this story of love and the power of the human spirit will seep into your bones.

-- Betsy Sharkey