Genden Phuntsok and Tom Hiddleston Discuss the Brotherhood of ‘Tenzing’

Genden Phuntsok and Tom Hiddleston star in Tenzing, which is now playing in select theaters and streaming on Apple TV. We discussed what stood out to them about how Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary became a team and learning from each other.

Based on true events, “Tenzing” chronicles the little-known story of Tenzing Norgay, a gifted Himalayan climber who, alongside New Zealand mountaineer Edmund Hillary, became the first to summit Mount Everest. Encouraged by his wife Dawa, Tenzing finds an ally in expedition secretary Jill Henderson. Together, they persuade Colonel John Hunt that Tenzing belongs on the British climbing team, rather than merely serving it. Where Western climbers see “Everest” as something to be conquered, Tenzing reveres “Chomolungma” as the sacred mother goddess. What follows is an ascent defined as much by the tensions between backgrounds, classes and competing ambitions as by the perils of the mountain itself. But high above the world, empire, rank and aspiration fall away, leaving two outsiders bound by mutual respect and trust — and for Tenzing, the fulfillment of both a lifelong dream and a spiritual calling.

“It was that they had such deep respect for each other, and that they were two different men who came from different corners of the planet, and they had a shared love of the mountains, and a shared love of nature, and the wild places and spaces that nature allows us into, specifically high mountains. It’s interesting; there are many accounts. Hillary wrote an account of the summit, so did Tenzing, so did John Hunt, and I think very early on they recognized in each other their respective skill, competence, and capability. Tenzing was a really extraordinary mountaineer, and Hillary could see that,” Hiddleston shared. “Where others were slowed down by altitude, Tenzing was able to keep pace and lead, and he knew the mountain better than anyone. And also, Tenzing recognized in Hillary, this is someone who knows what he’s doing. He had this force; he was incredibly strong, didn’t suffer altitude sickness, no loss of appetite, no loss of sleep. He was incredibly resilient in his mind and body, and ultimately, I think they loved it. They revered these mountains, and I think there was a brotherhood between them which endured for the rest of their lives.”

As for what Phuntsok learned from his co-star while they brought Tenzing and Hillary to the screen? “Compassion,” he explained. “Before they climb[ed] the mountain, both of them really [had] big compassion. [They] always [thought] about others, and after they summited, they [gained] a big reputation, [received a lot of] money, but they didn’t enjoy [these things only for] themselves. They just [gave] back to the Himalaya [community and value], especially Edmund Hillary. [He] built many schools, hospitals and [led] the Himalaya people [to get] education. Tenzing, too, built a school for the mountaineers [to] get their professional training at the school. And so, I think both of them have really big compassion.”

Watch my full interview below: