The film “Meru” is a documentary that follows three elite climbers attempting to conquer Meru Peak, one of the most challenging walls on the Himalayas. It won the U.S. documentary audience award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.  

Since its release in August, it’s topped over $2 million at the box office, making it one of the highest-grossing documentaries of the year. Chai Vasarhelyi, co-director of the film, joined us to talk about the production process behind this death-defying adventure. 

The film has all the elements of a big-budget production — special effects, dramatic music, beautiful scenery — but it managed to be a relatively inexpensive project. That’s because the stars of the film also served as cameramen.

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