The successful attempt of the two mountaineers Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler in 1978 to climb Mount Everest without using oxygen bottles is the focus of the documentary by Leo Dickinson. This film also presents the – often tragic – history of Everest ascents, from Mallory’s disappearance in 1924 to Hillary’s and Tensing’s successful first ascent in 1953 where they used oxygen bottles.