Ron: Welcome to Season 9 of the Stereo Geeks. We’re starting the season with a review from the Toronto International Film Festival 2026. Today, we’re reviewing Tenzing, which had its Canadian premiere at TIFF. I’m one of your hosts, Ron, a pop culture critic with bylines in Women Write About Comics and FanSided.
Mon: And I’m Mon, your other host, an entertainment writer with bylines in Bam Smack Pow and Huffpost, to name a few.
Mon: Before we start our episode, we would like to acknowledge that the land we are recording on is the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. It is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.
Ron: While we are making this land acknowledgement, we understand that this is not enough and that positive action is required by the people of Canada to make substantive change for the Indigenous nations and communities whose lands we now reside on.
What is the film about?
Mon: Tenzing is the story of Tenzing Norgay, the first person to summit Mt Everest. Enamoured by the mountain as a child, Tenzing spends decades trying to find a way to climb the mountain he thinks of as his own. For Tenzing, climbing the mountain isn’t a feat of physicality; it isn’t about endurance. It’s a spiritual journey to connect with the mountain he’s loved all his life.
Ron: Genden Phuntsok plays Tenzing during the monumental climb. He joins a British team led by John Hunt, played by Willem Dafoe, which also includes New Zealander Edmund Hillary, played by Tom Hiddleston. But while Tenzing is recognized as a climber, he’s still treated as an outsider. Can he overcome the racial biases of his so-called teammates to achieve his ultimate goal of meeting the mountain?
What did the film do well?
Mon: Tenzing was a true spectacle to behold. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the majesty of Everest captured in this fashion. The first look we get of the mountain is breathtaking. And it just gets better from there.
Ron: This film is unbelievably beautiful. The shots as the climbers go higher on the mountain, and they’re just surrounded by clouds. Astounding.
Mon: But beyond the mountain, the film is bustling and stunning. We are in the midst of the harsh landscape; but also the serenity of the temple, the hustle of the village, the grandeur vs the squalor of the living quarters for the expedition team. We are immersed in this story.
Ron: Director Jennifer Peedom has made a career out of telling the stories of Sherpas. Her first film in 2003 was about Sherpas. And she’s been following their stories since. She also directed a documentary in 2015. It is no wonder that she decided to tell the story of Norgay, one of the most famous Sherpas. And her long career charting the many journeys across Mount Everest can be seen in the loving way she shoots the mountain. Yes, it’s treacherous. It’s terrifying. This group of climbers explores areas humans haven’t seen before. But Peedom and her cinematographer Stefan Duscio capture the sheer beauty of the mountain. The clean white snow. The depth of it. The shine. It’s gorgeously shot.
Mon: That’s fascinating. You could tell that director Peedom really understands mountain climbing from the way the film is shot. But also the logistics of climbing. I learnt a lot from this film. I had no idea how much prep is done ahead of each segment of the climb. And how big a role the Sherpas play in setting up the camps and prep.
Ron: Oh yeah! I loved the details of the preparation. The ladders they use to traverse areas and caverns. Setting up the ropes to climb. I learned a lot of this when I watched the documentary Mountain Queen at TIFF in 2023.
Mon: As far as I’m concerned, you’re a veritable expert in mountain climbing theory. You’ve read and watched so much about it.
Ron: I rather doubt I know that much. But mountain climbing is something I’ve been interested in for a long time. Haven’t been able to do any climbing myself. But I love watching climbers and reading their stories. During the pandemic, I went through so many articles and podcasts about climbing. My interest has only grown!
Ron: Which is why I knew we had to watch Tenzing. At TIFF we try to watch different films but this one, I knew I couldn’t miss it. And I’m so glad we watched it. Because it is beautiful and it is detailed. I also appreciate that the film doesn’t dwell on the nastier aspects of mountain climbing. Altitude sickness is horrendous but the film only touches on the discomfort. I was relieved by that. The PG nature makes this film more accessible, and that’s needed. We want more people, of any and all ages, to see the story of the first man to summit Everest.
Mon: Yes, so let’s talk about the central character. This story is about Tenzing Norgay. It’s a biopic. We see everything from his perspective. We learn his story; his dream. I don’t know why but I’m gobsmacked by the choice.
Ron: How sad is it that I was surprised to see Genden Phuntsok get top billing? He’s the star here. This is Tenzing’s life story, his love story with his wife, Dawa, played by Thinley Lhamo, and his love of Čhomolangma, Mount Everest.
Mon: We’re so used to the white heroes’ stories being told. The Sherpas and supporting teams are forgotten. Uncredited. Norgay would have been unknown had he not worked harder than British expeditioners and fought to get on the climbing team. And yet, he’s disrespected from time to time. He’s battling numerous fronts to reach the summit and we see that play out throughout the film.
Ron: Right? One of the Sherpas, Pasang, played by Tenzin Jigmey, he’s an antagonistic character. Keeps making jibes at Tenzing for being an outsider. Tenzing isn’t a Sherpa, he’s from across the border. But Pasang also makes some astute points about how Sherpas will never be accepted by the tourists. Tenzing isn’t one of the climbers, even if he is granted the status of climber. And the film underlines that by having a scene right after where Tenzing’s rights as a climber are undermined, and he’s treated as support team.
Mon: I want to talk about the performances, specifically of the three actors who play Norgay. I loved their performances. Beyond touching. Little Tenzing, played by Samdrup Dorje Lama, was so earnest. The older Norgay, Tenzin Dalha, broke my heart and won me over with his sweetness. That romance was adorable.
Ron: The romance was unexpected. I feel like a lot of Hollywood films about the past tend to make Eastern people aromantic. Tenzing does not do that. This is the story of a man who met a kind girl when he was little and alone, kept finding his way to her as he got older, and gave her his whole heart. Even without Dawa by his side, she is the throughline of this film.
Mon: She is. Genden Phuntsok was amazing. The subtle looks he gives that convey so much. I cannot get over it. He can literally give you a monologue with just his minute facial expressions. Wow. I am stunned. Brilliant work. You cannot look away from such a compelling performance. I’d argue, a trio of brilliant performances.
Ron: I hope this is the start of a long global career for Phuntsok. He says a great deal without dialogue – you can tell he has a thorough understanding of the person he’s embodying.
Mon: The supporting cast of white actors are unmemorable. You could tell the focus for the Brits and Kiwis was on Tom Hiddleston and Willem Dafoe. Dafoe was amazing. Very normal. I was surprised by his British accent. Have I ever heard him with a British accent? It was good.
Ron: I’ve never heard Dafoe with any other accent. I think he did a great job!
Mon: Catriona Balfe as Jill Henderson was terrible. I felt like she was hamming it up and she was quite awful.
Ron: I was disappointed in Balfe. Her role was small but it was still important. Henderson gives Tenzing his first opportunity to climb. But Balfe seemed like she knew she was in a film. It was jarring.
Mon: On the other hand, Tom Hiddleston was great. Is he doing anything different? Not really. His accent is the same.
Ron: I’m a bit confused by the accent, because Ed Hillary is from New Zealand. I’m assuming back then the Kiwi accent wasn’t that strong?
Mon: Maybe. Some of his facial expressions are familiar. We have seen a lot of his work, so obviously we kinda know how he acts. But he also conveys a lot just with his eyes, and that builds his character and dynamic.
Ron: Yes, Hiddleston has an expressive face. It’s a stoic one in this film. He rarely cracks a smile as the determined Hillary. But he does the job – support Phuntsok.
Mon: Hiddleston knows how to step away from the spotlight. This is Phuntsok and Norgay’s movie. Edmund Hillary is a bystander in this story. But he is also a valuable ally and that story must also be told. Because without the support and a support network it is hard to break through barriers, whatever those barriers are. For Norgay, it’s literally racism. But he finds a way to power through that and it does help that—within the context of the film—Hillary is there to support him. Hiddleston too is there as a great acting partner in the film.
Ron: I like that the film allows Norgay and Hillary to connect through their outsider status—Norgay as a Bhotia, Hillary as a Kiwi.
Mon: Yes! That was such an interesting connection.
What could have been improved?
Mon: Honestly, I’m scraping the bottom of the barrel here with my criticism. But, there was a scene of peril that didn’t quite capture how deadly the situation could have been. I don’t know the logistics of climbing, so I couldn’t figure out what exactly was happening. I wish I’d felt the stakes a little more.
Ron: Really? I loved that scene! I’ll talk about it in a minute. I think the only thing I wanted was more scenes of the preparations. I wanted to dig into those details. But it’s a minor gripe.
Ron: Which brings me to the scene you didn’t like. Dude, my row right at the back were all in. I yelped so loud during that scene, and I would have been embarrassed if my seatmates weren’t squealing and leaping out of their seats. I was laughing along with people during the funny dialogue. There were a couple of ladies down the row who were absolutely losing it every time the climbers were shown smoking. It diminishes your lung capacity; why are you smoking and climbing? The tobacco lobby is the worst.
Ron: But as the movie came to a close, we let the emotions roll over us. I’ll be honest, we were ugly crying back there.
Mon: I was surrounded by stoic people. Not a tear shed. And there’s me using up my tissue supply and ruining my mask.
Final thoughts
Mon: Tenzing is stupendous. You can’t take your eyes off the breathtaking cinematography. The details of mountain-climbing are riveting. But the central story of Norgay, his personal and spiritual journey to reach the top, is beautifully told. It’s heartbreaking and hopeful. I particularly loved learning about his dynamics and relationships with those on the expedition—it was human, infuriating, and heart-warming. What a spectacle to behold. An unmissable watch.
Ron: I loved watching Tenzing. The performances from the main cast are strong, believable, and emotional. The story is powerful and still resonant. Having a film focus on Norgay instead of the men around him who couldn’t have climbed without his knowledge and skill? I can’t believe in 2026 this is still a rarity. Tenzing is an absolute feast for the eyes that everyone can enjoy.
Ron: That’s it for this review episode of Tenzing. Tune in next time for more from the Stereo Geeks.
Mon: That’s a wrap on Season 8 of Stereo Geeks. We’ll be at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. Keep an eye out for bonus episode reviews and newsletters from the festival.
Ron: You can listen to Stereo Geeks on stereogeeks.ca, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Don’t forget to rate us, and leave us a review; it helps other listeners find us.
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Mon: See you next time.
