Pura vida

A race against death on the world’s most dangerous Himalayan ridge

Pura Vida / The Ridge documents the dramatic rescue attempt of Spanish mountaineer Iñaki Ochoa de Olza on the south face of Annapurna, widely regarded by climbers as one of the most dangerous ascents in the world. In 2008, while traversing the mountain’s exposed ridge at around 7,400 metres, Iñaki becomes seriously ill. His climbing partner raises the alarm, triggering what would become the largest rescue operation ever attempted in the Himalayas.

Over the course of four days, twelve elite mountaineers from ten different countries abandon their own expeditions and converge on Annapurna, fully aware that the conditions make any rescue almost impossible. These climbers, many of them among the most respected alpinists of their generation, risk their own lives in an environment defined by thin air, extreme cold, and constant danger. The film follows this extraordinary collective effort, reconstructing the events through first hand testimonies recorded in the climbers’ home countries, as well as through archival footage and photographs from the rescue itself.

The documentary also draws on previously unseen images filmed by Iñaki himself, offering an intimate portrait of his philosophy and his approach to life and climbing. Through these personal accounts, Pura Vida / The Ridge reflects on friendship, moral responsibility, and the intense commitment that binds climbers together. Beyond the outcome of the rescue, the film stands as a tribute to solidarity and to a way of living defined by honesty, intensity, and an uncompromising desire to truly live.