How to Watch National Geographic Documentary Films ‘Torn’ on Disney+

A new movie from National Geographic Documentary Films called Torn is set to premiere on the Disney Plus streaming platform soon. The documentary examines the life of legendary climber Alex Lowe, whose body was recovered in 2016, after 17 years since his death. Torn had its world premiere at the 2021 Telluride Film Festival and won the award for Best Feature Film at BANFF Film Festival. So let's see how to watch Torn on Disney Plus.

The film, called a "cinematic gift" by RogerEbert.com, comes from first-time feature filmmaker Max Lowe and producer Chris Murphy. Producing for Lightbox is two-time Academy Award winner Simon Chinn ("Man on Wire," "Searching for Sugar Man") and Academy Award nominee Jonathan Chinn ("Black Sheep," "LA 92"), with Michael Harte ("Three Identical Strangers") as editor.

National Geographic Documentary Films previously released the Academy Award, BAFTA, and seven-time Emmy Award-winning film "Free Solo" and the Academy Award-nominated film "The Cave." Other critically acclaimed films under the banner include E. Chai Vasarheyli and Jimmy Chin's "The Rescue," Liz Garbus' "Becoming Cousteau" and Ron Howard's "Rebuilding Paradise," Sundance Audience Award winners "Science Fair" and "Sea of Shadows," Emmy winners "LA 92" and "Jane," and Dupont Award winner "Hell On Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of Isis."

When and Where to Watch Torn Online

Torn is set to premiere on the Disney Plus streaming platform on Friday, February 4, 2022. As it usually happens with streaming platforms, Torn will be available to watch starting 12:00 AM PT (03:00 AM ET), so you can watch it in the morning.

Since it's a Disney Plus original, you will need to have a subscription with the platform in order to access the title in its library. So, if you do not have one, you can subscribe to Disney Plus now.

Torn Plot

On October 5, 1999, Alex was tragically lost alongside cameraman and fellow climber David Bridges in a deadly avalanche on the slopes of the Tibetan mountain Shishapangma. Miraculously surviving the avalanche was Alex's best friend and climbing partner, renowned mountaineer Conrad Anker. After the tragedy, Anker and Alex's widow, Jennifer, fell in love and married, and Anker stepped in to help raise Alex's three sons.

In 2016, 17 years after their deaths, Lowe's and Bridges' bodies were discovered, and Lowe's family journeyed to the remote Himalayan mountains to recover the men's remains. In the powerful and deeply moving "Torn," director Max Lowe examines the long-buried feelings that the discovery unearthed for him and his family members.

Torn captures the Lowe-Ankers intense personal journey through love and loss with the eldest son, Max, behind the lens. "I have put everything of myself into Torn," said director Max Lowe. "A film truly unique in my career in its detailing of my own family's heart-opening exercise in vulnerability around our shared trauma, redemption, and love. I couldn't be more honored and thrilled to be able to share our story with the world on one of the biggest stages with our upcoming Disney+ launch."

Torn Trailer

Lowe challenges long-held family myths and questions his own beliefs as he creates an insightful examination of fatherhood, love, loss, and resilience set against the high-stakes world of professional mountain climbing. This documentary puts together archival footage of Alex's spellbinding adventures, revealing home movies and emotional interviews with Jennifer, Sam, Isaac, and Conrad.