Documentary about legendary mountaineer Teodors Ķirsis completed

A documentary film titled "The Road Never Ends" will reach Latvian cinemas in November, telling the story of legendary mountaineer Teodors Ķirsis and his role in Latvia's mountaineering history.

Producing the film took four years, during which the creators researched and compiled more than 70 hours of archival material from Latvia and abroad, including searches in Nepal's Himalayas and New Zealand. The material includes previously unpublished footage from Ķirsis's life and expeditions, along with his personal notes and diaries.

Memories from fellow climbers

The film also features recollections from people who climbed alongside Ķirsis, including mountaineers Imants Zauls, Ilgvars Pauls and Juris Ulmanis. Director Viktors Buda says Ķirsis's life story reflects perseverance and the drive to keep moving forward despite hardship.

Tickets for the premiere on November 12 will be available in limited numbers on the Forum Cinemas Centrs website starting September 30. From November 13, the film will screen at cinemas across Latvia. An international English-language version has also been produced, narrated by actor Jean-Marc Barr.

About Teodors Ķirsis

Teodors Ķirsis (1942–2003) began mountaineering in 1968 and climbed all seven peaks above 7,000 metres within Soviet territory, earning the "Snow Leopard" title. In 1995, together with Imants Zauls, he became the first Latvian to reach the summit of Everest. By 2002 the pair had completed the prestigious "Seven Summits" challenge, climbing the highest peak on every continent. Ķirsis led more than 50 mountain expeditions and wrote two books on mountaineering. He died in 2003 in New Zealand's Southern Alps.