The Last Expedition

The Last Expedition is a documentary that examines the life of Wanda Rutkiewicz, a Polish climber who became the first woman and the first person from Poland to reach the world's highest peaks. The film explores her struggle to enter the male-dominated field of high-altitude mountaineering and the personal costs associated with her success. Using an archived audio diary as a guide, the director, who is also a climber, travels to the Himalayas to investigate Rutkiewicz's disappearance thirty years prior. The narrative incorporates the perspectives of fellow climbers, including Reinhold Messner, Carlos Carsolio, and Krzysztof Wielicki, as well as Rutkiewicz's sister, Janina Fies.

Directed and written by Eliza Kubarska, this history-focused production was a collaborative effort between companies from several countries, including Poland, Germany, and Switzerland. The cast features archive footage of Wanda Rutkiewicz alongside interviews with Kurt Diemberger and other mountaineering figures. Since its release in October 2024, the film has received a positive response from viewers, maintaining a 7/10 rating on IMDb based on 124 votes.