More Than Mountaineering in the Powerful Documentary 'Torn'

This is Extra Point: A weekly guide on what to watch, listen to and read in the world of fitness culture.

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Torn. In October 1999, mountain climber Alex Lowe died in an avalanche on Mount Shishapangma in the Tibetan Himalaya, along with cameraman David Bridges. He was 40 years-old and left behind his wife, Jennifer, and their three boys, Max, Sam and Isaac. Lowe was a star and the mountain climbing world was shaken. Then things turned somewhat scandalous. Within a year of Lowe’s accident, his climbing partner, Conrad Anker, who barely survived the avalanche, married Jennifer and adopted the boys who all took the surname Lowe-Anker—except for Max.

Torn is the story of the Lowe-Ankers, as directed by Max, now in his 30s. Using discovered footage, home movies, expedition video and interviews, the documentary explores Alex Lowe’s passion for mountaineering (and Max’s ambivalence to it), as well as Anker’s ambitious climbing career. But at its core, the film is a deeply personal look at Max’s complicated relationship with Anker and the grief, guilt and devotion that defines it. Torn is available on Disney+.

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FoundMyFitness. Rhonda Patrick, Ph.D., breaks down the science of fitness in a podcast that features the latest research on nutrition, aging and disease prevention. She makes complex science accessible and offers an evidence based approach to lifestyle choices.

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The War in Ukraine Is Forcing Sports Federations to Take a Stand. In this Outside magazine article, Martin Fritz Huber notes that organizations like the International Olympic Committee, which historically has been reluctant to take a position against state-sponsored injustices, was quick to do so after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He explores both the question of why now and whether or not the athletic boycott of Russia is an effective means of conflict resolution.