Once in a Lifetime, Kilimanjaro

"Climb every mountain, ford every stream, follow every rainbow, till you find your dream.”

As an extraordinary example of passion, strength of spirit, resilience and sense of sacrifice, surrounded by a eulogy to friendship and team work, “Once in a Lifetime, Kilimanjaro” is a highly successful and beautiful representation of great television at the service of the viewer, exciting and moving, passionate and amusing, capable of concentrating in its nine -extraordinary- episodes all the characteristic elements of an adventure through one of the most fascinating places in the world; The true protagonist of this saga is Mount Kilimanjaro, one of the most enchanting peaks on our planet, as well as the highest mountain - a sleeping volcano, it must be remembered - on the African continent (5895m)...

Brilliant was the idea of forming an absolutely heterogeneous team by bringing together three idols of different generations, from the veteran and very talented Yoon Eun Hye (38 years old during the show's production) to the relatively younger colleague Uee (a revelation!) to the “little” - and surprising - Choi Hyo Jung, as well as the excellent Son Ho Jun, perfectly cast in the part of the oppa always chivalrously ready to do anything for his fellow adventurers...

Having passed without any particular effort the phase of getting to know each other and finding team cohesion (which will prove to be absolutely granitic), the four protagonists, who had never met before and who freely establish their respective roles and assignments, are also prepared from a medical point of view, about all the risks and eventualities they will -presumably- encounter and then catapulted into the extraordinary scenery of Tanzania, and us with them, to appreciate all the beauties and peculiarities of a world so fascinating and in many ways quite distant from the lifestyle of many of us;

It is precisely this exquisite and highly successful melting pot of seemingly distant worlds that delineates the first part of the journey to Tanzania, during which the four characters will find themselves interacting with the local residents, in a multi-faceted socio-cultural exchange that will not fail to recreate conditions of friendship and mutual collaboration, which will also be fundamental during the climbing of the mountain...

Without prejudices or cultural barriers, through even daring linguistic adjustments (the only flaw is that the four Korean artists display a limited knowledge of English), the first days of their stay in Tanzania will allow the protagonists of the adventure to enjoy some of the most beautiful experiences possible, from a photographic safari through the boundless Ngorongoro National Park, to a walk to the majestic Materuni Waterfalls, to a dip and a swim in the natural oasis of the beautiful Chemka hot springs, as well as appreciating the culinary delicacies of the characteristic cuisine of those places

But the days go by and the beginning of the adventure draws nearer and nearer, with the relative and growing tension;
Kilimanjaro is there and watches majestically, ready to take centre stage in the following episodes; and it is here that the show displays all its beauty and drama with a change of narrative register that, of course, takes into account the extraordinary difficulty of the mission that will last for several - endless - days...

It would be unfair to dwell on particular episodes, moments or situations because it would detract from the charm of the vision; personally, I trembled for all the last episodes, possessed by an almost “Herzogian” cinematic visual power (Werner Herzog being the most immediate reference); The great German filmmaker often portrayed in his works the disruptive force of nature and as a counterbalance the fragility of man often helpless in its presence, at the mercy of events - even mortal ones...

Here, one can almost perceive a metaphysical dimension of what can be defined as a journey that is not only physical and corporeal (and absolutely gruelling for the body, moreover!), but also interior and extrasensory, with an almost Zen-like awareness of one's goals, objectives and limits, which one always strives to push beyond. An experience that is at times almost psychedelic, thanks also to the incredible landscape - moon-like or Dante's Inferno, just to be clear - of Kilimanjaro and the changes in appearance and climate as you climb towards the summit.

With a heart-wrenching ending that leaves no one indifferent, ‘Once In a Lifetime Kilimanjaro’ perfectly completes its incredible mission, winning the challenge of the spectacle and conveying a wide variety of truly unique emotions.

There were many memorable moments in the show; at times, it almost seemed like a Yoon Eun Hye show, given how the actress—who is truly amazing - manages to discipline herself into the role of the perfect Unnie, putting her completely at the service of her younger companions and her peer Son Ho Jun, with a sense of duty that is truly unmatched in terms of organisational skills and discipline, as well as giving us sincere and personal moments that also seem to sum up an artist who has been in the spotlight since a young age (she made her debut at 16);

Uee is perhaps the most surprising of the bunch, coming into her own in the long run. The sketches where she plays a swimming instructor or the chance encounter with her personal fans are really enjoyable. The idol grows in willpower and determination throughout the show, as does the younger Choi Hyo Jung, who is gorgeous and cheerful, always smiling, even in the most extreme moments, and appears very determined, thanks in part to the responsibility she has taken on with her surprising appointment to her role.

Son Ho Jun, also without frills or too many words, will prove to be extraordinary during the climb, significantly placing himself at the head of the variegated group; between singing jam sessions that once again demonstrate the extraordinary unifying power of music that breaks down barriers and knows no boundaries, improvised performances of the famous local coffee (with funny digressions on “Coffee Prince” and “Coffee Friends”), solidarity and friendship, personal crises and progressive defections, the incredible physical endurance of the local guides and carriers, the non-stop whirlwind of emotions makes the nine intense episodes fly by, giving us a wonderful adventure, at least for me, which I highly recommend to everyone.

9/10

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