Pietro meets Bruno during one of his family holidays to the Alpine-surroundedValle d’Aosto (Aosta Valley). As a matter of course they become friends, ifonly because there is no one else for Pietro to play with. Their deep-feltfriendship is temporarily interrupted by both parents, but as adults they meetagain and things go back to normal, even though they sometimes don’t see eachother for ages.
Despite their differences, both have an absent father. Bruno’s works elsewhereand is therefore physically absent, and although Pietro goes on mountain walkswith his father, later Bruno is also allowed to come along, they are neververy close. His father is mentally absent: sooner or later he always has toreturn to Turin, “the stinking city” where he works. That he does turn out tobe a father figure for Bruno stings Pietro, but the two nevertheless maintaina warm relationship. Because a little quarrel or disagreement never harms theclose relationship between taciturn, bearded men who consider themselvesfriends for life, come what may.
The eight mountains , based on Paolo Cognetti’s bestseller, is a transversebook adaptation, and that speaks for the film by Felix van Groeningen andCharlotte Vandermeersch. Their edit is full of striking style choices. Thatstarts with the image format, almost square. With a film about mountains youwould rather expect wide views and panoramic shots.
Also read one interview with Felix van Groeningen and CharlotteVandermeersch about ‘The eight mountains’
But in terms of content this is narrowly correct (and) the image format. Itrefers to Bruno’s self-imposed limitations. He cannot see beyond themountains, considers himself a true mountain dweller. Broadening his horizons,as Pietro does on all his travels, is not for him, he prefers to live alone inharmony with the – sometimes rough – nature. Nor does he see nature assomething abstract, which he accuses Pietro’s urban friends when they come tovisit. Beautifully photographed by Ruben Impens The eight mountains lastsalmost two and a half hours and contains little explicit drama – everythinghappens in the heads of Bruno and Felix. Finding the pastoral paceobjectionable is unjustified, Van Groeningen and Vandermeersch’s adaptationshould rather be seen as a meditative mountain hike. You should not rush it,sometimes you have to look around you or rest to gain insight. Storender arethe songs of the Swedish singer-songwriter Daniel Norgren with which thesoundtrack is overcrowded, a symphonic score would have been more appropriate.But you can also say that it nicely underlines the transverseness of thisoperation.
Drama
The eight mountains (Le otto montagne)
Director: Felix van Groeningen and Charlotte Vandermeersch. Starring:Alessandro Borghi, Luca Marinelli, Filippo Timi, Gualtiero Burzi. Length: 147mins.
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A version of this article also appeared in the December 21, 2022 newspaper
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