From early age on, the two brothers Reinhold and Günther Messner had one big dream: to one day climb the Nanga Parbat, the so-called "Naked Mountain" in the Himalaya with an elevation of more than 8000 metres. In 1970, when the Messner brothers had already become experienced and passionate mountaineers, there dream finally seemed to come true: Reinhold and Günther, at just 23 and 25 years old, join a group of international elite mountaineers headed by expedition leader Dr. Karl Maria Herrligkoffer. Together, the men want to conquer the dreaded mountain. Because of bad weather conditions, the expedition is abandoned during the ascent. But Reinhold Messner cannot be stopped in his attempt to reach the summit. He climbs the mountain on his own but is followed by his younger brother – a decision with tragic consequences as only Reinhold is going to return to the valley alive.