[LOS ANGELES – dal nostro corrispondente]
All the cold weather we’ve had here in Los Angeles recently makes me think it’s time to go skiing, or at least go watch a movie about it, since we’re not exactly a ski destination. Fortunately, I had the pleasure of doing just that at the American Film Institute’s International Film Festival in Hollywood last month (http://www.afi.com/onscreen/afifest/2008/). Director Mark Obenhaus’ documentary “Steep,” which opens this coming Friday in Los Angeles and New York, chronicles the sport of extreme skiing through experiences of several of the sport’s legendary figures, from the sport’s infancy through the present. Featured skiers include Genovese Stefano De Benedetti. The film resonates on many levels with its adrenaline-inducing mix of grand scenery, dangerous skiing and this breed of people who live a lifestyle that most of us ponder on only fleetingly. We were lucky enough to have a Q&A (question and answer) session with Obenhaus and two of his film’s protagonists, Ingrid Backstrom and Andrew McClean, after the screening. For me, as a so-so skier, the film was an opportunity to live vicariously through these talented people, who ski shower-curtain steep slopes day in and day out the way the majority of us spend our time at desk jobs. There are so many things that impress about “Steep” but the comment that stuck with me the most was Glen Plake’s revelation that “every single dollar” he’s ever made in his life, ever, has been from skiing. How many of us can say that every dollar we’ve ever earned was earned doing something we love, and something that doesn’t harm anyone else? Hmmm…. It’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately as I sit down at my desk each day. I know it’s probably going to be difficult to find this movie there in Italy , but I hope you at least try. Mi raccomando! In the meantime, you can watch the trailer here: www.steepfilm.com
See you later alligators,
Serendipitydoodah