Occasionally we let a guy into our ranks do some of our dirty work... this time it was a co-effort between Gina Bégin & Stephen W. Weiss who took turns reviewing the films of the Banff film fest. Let's start with the honorary male guest poster, shall we?
THE LONGEST WAY
Winner of “Best Short Mountain Film”, is about a guy (Christoph Rehage) who walked for a year and roughly 4500km passing the desert of Gobi taking pictures of himself while on the trip. YEP, WALKED! He goes from being a clean, cut military looking guy to a bearded, fro-obtaining nomad. Here is actually the full film, it is only about 5 minutes long, take a look…
THE KHUMBU CLIMBING CENTRE 2K10
This movie is about Nepali Climbers (that’s where Everest is) tuning up their climbing skills. This movie marks the 7th year of the Khumbu Climbing Centre. It was a cool look at how we have integrated skills that we have developed into the Nepali Sherpas who help guide the massive task of Everest. Here is the full film, only 7 minutes long.
THE ASGARD PROJECT
Winner of “Best Film on Climbing”, this film (produced by Alastair Lee) is about three climbers (Leo Houlding, Sean ‘Stanley’ Leary, Carlos Suarez) and a stout film crew on the journey up the Asgard. The Asgard is a 16 pitch climb on the Baffin Island, in the Arctic Circle; that can decimate any team because of it’s falling rock and ice, variable weather conditions, and just plainly put, tough routes. Because it is in such a desolate area of the world you would NORMALLY fly in to a city and hike 5 days to the bottom of the mountain through the frozen tundra. Instead, Leo and the guys decided to parachute into some of the most vast scenery I have ever seen on film. Watching these guys climb this mountain through all of the crap that they took was truly amazing and just when you think they made it…
CHIMAERA
This film is brought to us by Rocky Mountain Sherpas who also made The Fine Line. Made with a camera that shoots 1000 frames per second gives the ability to view fast motion in super slow-mo. There is not any dialogue, just shot after shot of cool mountain scenery, some mountain patrol avalanche control, and super slow-mo trick action. A pretty simple film, but eye catching.
PARKING GARAGE BEYOND THE LIMIT
Another short film, well a spoof, of the show Everest Beyond the Limit. It is about a guy’s quest to summit a parking garage after failing the year before. It was written by Mark Odlum and John Dabrowski, and directed by John Dabrowski. A funny look at what us mountain enthusiasts think is funny. Check it out! (4 minutes)
INTO DARKNESS
Breathe in that last breath of fresh air because we are going inside the earth! This movie is about a group of guys who are dedicated cavers speaking of the importance of caving. If you are claustrophobic, this one will send a chill down your spine! The tight spaces these guys fit into are some of the most frightening I have ever seen. I am not a caver, so I think pretty much anything they do underground is pretty crazy. Once in the end cave though, they display the amazing-ness of what a cave can bring. The rock formations that have been formed over thousands(?) of years of water erosion are simply unbelievable. I mean really, how does rock form into these shapes?! Definitely worth it to check out the film JUST for that.
EASTERN RISES
Winner of “Best Film on Mountain Sports”, is a movie about fishing. Boring right, ABSOLUTELY WRONG! This movie was possibly one of my favorites of the night. With the sarcasm, the real displeasure of being there in Kamchatka from the narrator, the mass amount of Russian vodka, Big foot sightings, the sheer excitement of doing what they love, and the amazing scenery is what made this film spectacular. I think the one factor that set this apart is the comeback kid type of movie it was. One fisherman in particular never got a chance of going to Kamchatka (the mecca of fishing) because of being tricked but got redemption of going 20 years later. Seeing the smile from his face while there, reminds me of myself whenever I get to do the mountain things that I do. It shows the obsession that many of us mountain lovers have for the activities we do. Here is just a trailer from the full length movie. (Contains explicit language)
FAVORITE OF THE DAY: THE ASGARD PROJECT
SCARED THE BE-JESUS OUT OF ME: INTO DARKNESS
A GOOD LAUGH: PARKING GARAGE BEYOND THE LIMIT
APPRECIATION FOR LIFE: EASTERN RISES
Go To:
Day 1 (you're here)
Day 4 (Radical Reels - stay tuned!)
Categories:
Reviews
What kind of comment goes on your own article? haha. Thanks a bunch for the props and introducing me to Banff, G! Can't wait for next year!
"The Longest Way" - only interesting if you want to see a man grow a beard/a "little" narcistic - journey only visible if you speedread."The Longest Way" - interesting and informative-makes me think of how much we influence native people and move them into society while we strive to escape it."The Asgard Project" is fantastic and well it should be as it has incredible sponsors and dollars to go with them! "Chimeara" is amazing photography; it creates a dance with the skiing - incredible and a favorite! "Parking Garage Beyond the Limit" - I know this guy is related to Michael on "The Office" - except for the unncessary Trojan scene (why do film-makers believe they have to add an X to a film to defile its flow?)...this is worth seeing and sharing."into Darkness"-love the filming of squeezing into tight passageways which open into vast panaramas of stone icicles - this film truly captures scenes unrealized by most."Eastern Rises" captures the essence of my yearning for nature in its purity with a great fly - catch and release, only after a great campfire dinner. Well done, Steven W Weisee for Banff Day One!
Chimaera was stunning. It's so easy sometimes to get caught up in finding the biggest, best, steepest line and losing sight of the whole reason you're out there in the first place. Fresh clean air, best friends, snow in your face and the meditation behind the preparation and anticipation of the first run of the day is why we all keep getting drawn back to the mountains. And last but not least, the avy bombers deserve a medal for keeping us all safe to shred another day.
Thank you all for your comments! Beautifully written, Kate & my sentiments exactly. It's so great to hear someone else express these same feelings of what's at the heart of why we do what we do.
into darkness- kinda wanna see it. curious what they're going to show/ and where they are. Its been a long time since ive seen a good caving fil, if ever.