The Summit
At a summit for Latin American presidents in Chile where the region's geopolitical strategies and alliances are in discussion, Argentine president Hernán Blanco endures political and family drama that will force him to face his own demons.
The film disappointed at the box office against its small-scale budget of $6.0M, earning $5.7M globally (-5% loss).
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Summit (2017) reveals strategically placed story structure, characteristic of Santiago Mitre's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 54 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Archive footage and interviews establish multiple climbing teams preparing for their K2 summit attempts in August 2008, showing the mountain's deadly reputation and the climbers' ordinary lives before departure.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Weather window opens. Multiple teams receive confirmation that conditions are favorable for a summit push, creating the opportunity they've been waiting for but also starting the clock on a dangerous convergence of climbers on the narrow route.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 29 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to The climbers leave base camp and begin their summit push, crossing into the death zone above 8,000 meters. This is the irreversible commitment - once they ascend this high, every hour increases risk and depletes their bodies., moving from reaction to action.
At 57 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Multiple climbers reach the summit of K2 in the early afternoon of August 1st. Euphoria, triumph, emotional release - a false victory, as they've summited dangerously late in the day and the descent will occur in darkness with depleted energy., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 86 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The massive serac collapses, triggering an avalanche that sweeps climbers off the mountain and cuts the fixed ropes. Multiple deaths occur simultaneously. Communication breaks down. The "whiff of death" becomes mass tragedy as the mountain claims its victims., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 91 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Survivors realize they must make final decisions based on brutal calculus: who can be saved, who cannot, and that staying longer means joining the dead. Some choose attempted rescue, others choose survival. Both choices are haunted but necessary., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Summit's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping The Summit against these established plot points, we can identify how Santiago Mitre utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Summit within the drama genre.
Santiago Mitre's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Santiago Mitre films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. The Summit takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Santiago Mitre filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Santiago Mitre analyses, see Argentina 1985.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Archive footage and interviews establish multiple climbing teams preparing for their K2 summit attempts in August 2008, showing the mountain's deadly reputation and the climbers' ordinary lives before departure.
Theme
A veteran climber or guide states the core tension: "The summit is optional, coming down is mandatory" - establishing the theme of ambition versus survival, and whether reaching the top is worth the ultimate price.
Worldbuilding
Exposition of K2's extreme danger, the various international teams gathering at base camp, the personalities and motivations of key climbers, and the technical challenges of the Bottleneck and the hanging serac that threatens the route.
Disruption
Weather window opens. Multiple teams receive confirmation that conditions are favorable for a summit push, creating the opportunity they've been waiting for but also starting the clock on a dangerous convergence of climbers on the narrow route.
Resistance
Teams debate timing, rope-fixing strategy, and whether to coordinate efforts. Tensions emerge between different groups' approaches. Climbers make final preparations, contact families, and wrestle with the decision to commit to the ascent.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The climbers leave base camp and begin their summit push, crossing into the death zone above 8,000 meters. This is the irreversible commitment - once they ascend this high, every hour increases risk and depletes their bodies.
Mirror World
Personal stories emerge of climbers' relationships with loved ones at home - families, children, partners - creating the thematic counterpoint between the selfish pursuit of glory and the responsibility to those who depend on them.
Premise
The ascent through the night toward the summit. Stunning footage of the climb, the beauty and terror of the mountain, teams helping each other, the physical toll, and the building anticipation as they approach the Bottleneck and summit pyramid.
Midpoint
Multiple climbers reach the summit of K2 in the early afternoon of August 1st. Euphoria, triumph, emotional release - a false victory, as they've summited dangerously late in the day and the descent will occur in darkness with depleted energy.
Opposition
The descent begins and disasters accumulate: rope tangles at the Bottleneck, climbers moving too slowly, bottlenecks of traffic, headlamps failing, exhaustion setting in, and the hanging serac becoming increasingly unstable as afternoon sun weakens it.
Collapse
The massive serac collapses, triggering an avalanche that sweeps climbers off the mountain and cuts the fixed ropes. Multiple deaths occur simultaneously. Communication breaks down. The "whiff of death" becomes mass tragedy as the mountain claims its victims.
Crisis
Survivors scattered across the mountain face impossible choices in darkness: attempt rescue or save themselves, stay with dying companions or descend, use remaining energy to help others or preserve it for their own survival. The dark night of the soul made literal.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Survivors realize they must make final decisions based on brutal calculus: who can be saved, who cannot, and that staying longer means joining the dead. Some choose attempted rescue, others choose survival. Both choices are haunted but necessary.
Synthesis
The desperate descent continues through a second night and following day. Some climbers make it down through heroic effort and luck. Others perish from falls, exhaustion, or altitude. Rescue attempts are mounted. The final toll becomes clear: 11 climbers dead.
Transformation
Survivors and family members reflect on the disaster. The closing images show the mountain unchanged, indifferent to human ambition. Those who returned are forever altered, carrying survivor's guilt and the weight of impossible choices, questioning whether any summit justifies such loss.