This film was filled with the most poetic and moving diary entries I am fighting to not try to replicate the loquacious language that delighted my ears and moved my heart. But, what was more impressive is the bunch of maniacs trying to explore the South Pole and their story of survival. And did I mention they were maniacs?
Shackleton: The Greatest Story of Survival (dir. Bobbi Hansel and Caspar Mazzotti) details Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ill-fated expedition to try to make it to the South Pole. Along with him, he took 27 other unfortunate souls who had to brave soul-crushing and hope-destroying conditions.
It is part documentary, part drama, being told by explorer Tim Jarvis, who is equally a maniac having attempted and survived many of the arduous experiences that plagued Shackleton and his team.
The astonishing good luck (if you would describe it as that) to have a photographer on board to record the images that we got to see, paired with Shackleton’s dairy of what he was going through presents an example of bravery and leadership that had to be seen to be believed.
In storytelling, there is an idea to be mean to your characters. Make everything as hard as possible, and then when they are down, put the knife in and twist. The battles that Shackleton and the team had to go through are almost comically bad. One of those situations where you wouldn’t write the stuff because it is so far-fetched.
The film starts talking about what a great man and great leader Shackleton was. Gazing at him for the first time I didn’t think much of him but listening to his words and seeing his deeds you can understand why people regard him as highly as they do.
Nowadays we revere people famous for being famous, or saying horrible things to those below them with no means to defend themselves and we think they are cool. Shackleton put his team first and a quote from his dairy struck me – Loneliness is the penalty of leadership.
He had to keep being a step of everyone so that they never gave up hope in these most destitute and dire of situations. I think it is worth a watch to see what the human spirit is capable of doing. However, I hazard to suggest it might be even smarter to send your boss to it so they can learn to be a better leader.
Luke McMeeken-Ruscoe