One of the most disputed chapters in Italian mountaineering history returns to the spotlight. Seventy years after the 1954 Italian expedition conquered K2—the world’s second-highest and one of its most treacherous peaks—legendary climber Reinhold Messner revisits the story in his first feature documentary.
Titled “K2 – The Great Controversy”, the film explores the triumphs and tensions surrounding the expedition, led by geologist and explorer Ardito Desio, and sheds new light on the role of Walter Bonatti, then a young and ambitious mountaineer. For decades, Bonatti was at the center of bitter disputes over events that took place during the final ascent.
According to Bonatti, he and his high-altitude porter, Amir Mahdi, were forced to spend a night exposed at 8,100 meters after the summit team—Achille Compagnoni and Lino Lacedelli—allegedly moved the final camp to prevent him from joining them. The ordeal left Mahdi permanently injured and cast a long shadow over what was meant to be a national triumph.
Messner’s film revisits these events not only as a historical reconstruction but also as a reflection on human rivalry, ambition, and the fragile bond of trust among climbers. The documentary invites viewers to question how the pursuit of glory can blur the line between solidarity and conflict—even at the roof of the world.