Vertical (Russian: Вертикаль) is a 1967 Soviet sports action adventure film directed by Stanislav Govorukhin and Boris Durov.

[5][6] The film tells the story of a seasoned climber Vitali Leonov who leads a team to conquer a treacherous peak, but important information is kept secret and an approaching cyclone test their survival and trust.

A group of climbers, led by the experienced Vitaly Lomov, a veteran of the Great Patriotic War, sets out to conquer the fictional mountain of Or-Tau in Svaneti.

The next day, Volodya receives a warning of an approaching cyclone and transmits a message ordering the group to abandon the climb and descend.

However, Gennady, the climber who receives the message, faces a dilemma: follow the order and retreat without summiting, or take the risk of continuing, earning the respect of Larisa, for whom he has clear feelings.

They split into two pairs: Gennady and Lomov descend, leaving Rita and the injured Alexander in a snow cave with limited supplies.

Inside the tent, Lomov discovers a note left by Iliko, who had broken his leg during a climb and died from the cold.