HOW MUCH RISK DO YOU NEED IN LIFE?
A FILM BY
MATTHIAS AFFOLTER
A FILMFORMAT PRODUCTION
Film
Four mountaineers discover mountain routes, alpine crystals and their personal limits, but not all the answers to their questions about risk, freedom and their place on earth.
Synopsis
The mountains are both an escape and a place of refuge for four generations of mountaineers. «Mountains in the mind» shows us their passion and the questions associated with their way of life.
We strain with Jaques Grandjean to reach alpine crystals in brittle rock on sheer rock faces. On the north face of the Gross Ruchen, we hear extreme climber Dani Arnold cursing in the windstorm. We accompany Stefan Siegrist on his expedition to Makalu’s western pillar in Nepal. Werner Munter, more than 70 years old, is still searching for new routes in the remotest areas of Val d’Hérens.
Searching for the right path, the four guides face fundamental questions which concern us all: How much am I willing to risk to make my dreams come true? How much risk do you need in life?
Cast
Dani Arnold (29)
is widely known as one of the world’s best alpinists since setting a new speed record climbing the north face of the Eiger. Dani, however, is always aiming higher, he wants to overcome his limits and set new standards. The man from the Canton of Uri is convinced that the difficulties he is going to face when climbing even more demanding mountains will take brains not brawn: he must be able to overcome the limits in his mind.
Stephan Siegrist (41)
has been one of the most successful extreme climbers in Switzerland for more than ten years. He is one of the few mountaineers who can combine his passion with earning a living as he gives lectures and shows slides and films about his spectacular adventures. As a father, he leaves nothing to chance, and increasingly avoids taking unnecessary risks. However, there are still many challenges he would like to tackle.
Jacques Grandjean (60)
is a passionate alpine crystal seeker. Since his last climbing dream came true, at the age of 40, he and his friends have been scaling alpine rock faces in search of crystals. Increasingly he finds that he is physically challenged by the strenuous climbs and realizes that the end of his life as a crystal seeker is approaching. These days he has “more souvenirs than projects”. But his passion still drives him to keep on climbing high, searching for hidden clefts.
Werner Munter (72)
is still discovering new routes in the wildest corners of Val d’Hérens. After surviving a fall from an ice wall as a young climber, he began to seriously study the questions concerning safety and risk in the mountains. His findings revolutionized avalanche awareness techniques and he became a world-renowned expert in the field. He does not believe in absolute safety, but asks: How much risk is necessary to be able to develop freely?
Gallery
Locations
Credits
Written & Directed by Matthias Affolter
Cinematography by Jonas Jäggy
Sound by Mathias Hefel
Aditional Cinematography by
Daniel Bartsch, David Göttler
Editing by Falk Peplinski
Music by Simon Hauswirth
Hangmusic Andi Isler
Sound Editing & Sound Design
by Jascha Dormann
Sound Mixing by Jörg Höhne
Compositing Martin Sautter
Color Grading by Dirk Meier
Script Consulting by Edgar Hagen
Trailer by Katharina Fiedler
Graphics by Michi Nussbaumer
Produced by Mathias Hefel
Contact
Filmformat GmbH
Hammerstrasse 160a
4057 Basel
info@filmformat.ch
www.filmformat.ch
+41 61 411 48 42
Distributor
MovieBiz Films
Postfach 204
9630 Wattwil
jay@moviebiz.ch
www.moviebizfilms.com
+41 78 855 95 00
Worldsales
Filmformat GmbH
Hammerstrasse 160a
4057 Basel
info@filmformat.ch
www.filmformat.ch
+41 61 411 48 42
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Responsible for the content
Filmformat GmbH
Mathias Hefel
Hammerstrasse 160a
4057 Basel
info@filmformat.ch
+41 61 411 48 42
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