Having met in the 1980s when Pietro accompanied his parents on a retreat in the mountains where Bruno lives, a boy of the same age, two men share a friendship that has never wavered over the years, despite absences, different life choices and the passage of time.
The career of Felix Van Groeningen is quite fascinating. The Belgian filmmaker first attracted attention with The shit of things before being revealed to the international public thanks to The Broken Circle Breakdown (Alabama Monroe), finalist for the Oscars in the category of best foreign language film in 2014. This recognition allowed him to then direct Handsome Boy in the United States (with Timothée Chalamet and Steve Carell).
For the sake of authenticity, this film adaptation of The mountain otto, by Paolo Cognetti, was shot in Italy, in the original language of the novel, although the filmmaker does not master it himself. The latter also asked Charlotte Vandermeersch, his faithful accomplice and lover, to co-sign this time with him the production of this feature film with intimate resonances.
Visually spectacular, The Eight Mountains takes place mainly in the Aosta Valley, in the Italian Alps. The story is built around the friendship first shared by two boys from two completely different backgrounds. One, a city dweller, lives in Turin, and the other is the only child of his age in the tiny village lost in the valley, where he lives with his father. Over the years, Pietro (Luca Marinelli) will travel the world to build himself, while Bruno (Alessandro Borghi) never leaves his mountain. It is also there that the friendship between the two men will be able to flourish, although they have each followed very distinct trajectories.
We may find that this contemplative work sometimes drags on, but the filmmakers’ approach consists in drawing the spectator into an existential introspection before which we cannot remain indifferent. The result is a gentle melancholy, a bit as if, in a spirit of sobriety and truth, this film forced us to confront ourselves with the essential themes of life. And it’s beautiful.
Winner of the jury prize at the Cannes Film Festival last year, The Eight Mountains (The mountain otto) is showing in the original Italian version with French subtitles.
Indoors
Drama
The Eight Mountains
Felix Van Groeningen and Charlotte Vandermeersch
With Luca Marinelli, Alessandro Borghi, Filippo Timi
2:27 a.m.