Childhood is when dreams creep into the young impressionable minds and some of them linger on for a lifetime. When young Herman paints a picture of a mountain peak at class, little does he know that the imagery of conquering that peak will continue to weigh on him for the rest of his life. As life leads him on, more vital affairs seem to demand his time and attention and his dreams soon take a back seat. Harman focuses his efforts at working hard on his academics and achieving the degrees that his parents aspired for him. As the little boy grows up to become a brilliant young man and thereafter a successful entrepreneur, the dreams of the little child in him all but disappear.
‘The Boy and the Mountain’ is a short, animated film by directors Santiago Aguilera and Gabriel Monreal. The film bases itself on the story of Hernan Leal, who follows his childhood dream to conquer the seven peaks of the seven continents including the highest, Mount Everest. Coming from a humble middle-class background and rising through sheer hard work, Hernan’s passion for the peaks has seen him scale new heights not just in mountaineering but likewise in business. ‘The Boy and the Mountain’ is a well-made film giving enough attention to detail in its production and its narrative. The characters in the film are well thought through, and their animation works to endear the viewer to the characters right from the word go. The Lighting schemes and the effective use of shadows elevate the dramatic storytelling to a visual treat.
The animated film ‘The Boy and the Mountain’ is a tribute to the resolute spirit of human perseverance. It sends out the powerful message that ‘it is never too late to follow your dreams’.
