The Climb

The year is 1959 and the place is Baltimore. Danny is twelve. His father is the only man in the neighbourhood who did not go to the war. Because of that the boy gets taunted. Remarks about cowardice reach as far as the house. An old radio tower on the hill is about to come down. Danny decides to climb it to prove his courage. An elderly neighbour called Langer helps him. The man is a former construction foreman. He is dying of cancer. He asks Danny to help him end his life. Meanwhile there is another man in the neighbourhood. He gets drunk and fires off his rifle. Danny’s father has to confront him. Everything comes together on one stormy night. John Hurt and Gregory Smith appear in the ninety four minute film, a New Zealand, Canadian and French co-production Bob Swaim finished in 1998.