Find Out What It Means!

Pol'e, Pol'e - Days of Heaven, Days of Hell - A Documentary by Mark Jaffee

Polé, Polé is the story of a New York advertising professional who sets off on a personal exploration to answer the deeper quest for a meaning in his life.  He joins a group attempting to reach the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, the highest freestanding mountain on Earth. Filmed in Africa with epic grandeur, the film carries us in the footsteps of the climbers.

Interestingly enough, there is not one experienced mountaineer among the group.  Bound only by the desire for a new adventure, they come from all walks of life, from a dozen different countries and cultures, range in age from 20 to 60, male and female, Asian, black and white.  As different as they appear, they share one common goal: they seek to discover not a mountain, but their own true selves, for each person's pilgrimage itself becomes each person's summit.

As the group makes its way steadily upward under the guidance of Chagga guides Wilson and Julius, they proceed slowly, slowly (Polé Polé in the local Chagga dialect). They must conquer fear, pain, illness, exhaustion and great physical discomfort along the way. 

Each member's willingness to help another and team spirit is the heart of this story.  Some will achieve the summit, others will not.  But each will discover that it is the journey that truly matters, and not the destination.

At 13,000 feet above the African continent, we observe the group actually receiving news of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, as it unfolds thousands of miles away.  It is an unnerving and pivotal moment in the documentary. The film visually juxtaposes the maddening pace and get-ahead lifestyle of New York City with the serenity and majesty of Africa's highest mountain.

The film illustrates a profound insight from world leader Nelson Mandela:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves: Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?"

With its many personal, clear-sighted glimpses into the hearts of the individuals along the way - the guides, the porters, the climbers, and the filmmaker himself - accompanied by a haunting international musical score, Polé Polé - DAYS OF HEAVEN.DAYS OF HELL is, finally, a story of triumph: the triumph of the human spirit.

Written, Produced and Directed by Mark Jaffee
Running time 55 minutes color 35mm 185 Dolby SR or Beta PAL and NTSC