As "The Eight Mountains" (2022 release; Belgian-Italian co-production; 147 min.) opens, we are introduced to Pietro, an 11 yo boy from Turin. Pietro and his mom have rented a summer place in the remote Italian Alps. Pietro gets to know Bruno, a 13 yo boy and apparently the only kid left in the village. Pietro and Bruno quickly become the best of friends. Alas, at the end of the summer, Pietro returns to Turin. At this point we are less than 15 minutes into the movie.
Couple of comments: this is a Belgian-Italian coproduction, directed by Oscar-nominated Belgian director Felix van Groeningen ("The Broken Circle Breakdown") and Charlotte Vandermeersch, and based on the book of the same name by Italian author Paolo Cognetti. I have not read the book so I cannot comment who closely the big screen adaptation sticks to the book. In essence, this examines the ups and downs of a lifelong friendship between these 2 guys, spanning a number of decades. The movie is a slowburner in the best possible way. It is most definitely not for anyone in a hurry. As van Groningen did in "The Broken Circle Breakdown", the co-directors focus on the storytelling, with great result. Relax, sit back and enjoy. The fact that the movie is filmed on location in the Italian Alps and a few other remote places only adds to the beauty of the film. Please note that the movie is filmed in an unusual 1 to 1 screen ratio (showing as a square)
"The Eight Mountains" premiered at last year's Cannes Film Festival to immediate critical acclaim (it won the Jury Prize). It is with good reason still rated 90% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. How this film missed out being nominated for the 2023 Best Foreign Film Oscar is a mystery. Equally a mystery is why this is just now being released in US theaters. It opened this weekend at my art-house theater here in Cincinnati. The early Sunday evening screening where I saw this at was not attended well (6 people, including myself) If you are in the mood for a top=notch foreign film that frankly is one of the best movies of the year I've seen so far, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.
Couple of comments: this is a Belgian-Italian coproduction, directed by Oscar-nominated Belgian director Felix van Groeningen ("The Broken Circle Breakdown") and Charlotte Vandermeersch, and based on the book of the same name by Italian author Paolo Cognetti. I have not read the book so I cannot comment who closely the big screen adaptation sticks to the book. In essence, this examines the ups and downs of a lifelong friendship between these 2 guys, spanning a number of decades. The movie is a slowburner in the best possible way. It is most definitely not for anyone in a hurry. As van Groningen did in "The Broken Circle Breakdown", the co-directors focus on the storytelling, with great result. Relax, sit back and enjoy. The fact that the movie is filmed on location in the Italian Alps and a few other remote places only adds to the beauty of the film. Please note that the movie is filmed in an unusual 1 to 1 screen ratio (showing as a square)
"The Eight Mountains" premiered at last year's Cannes Film Festival to immediate critical acclaim (it won the Jury Prize). It is with good reason still rated 90% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. How this film missed out being nominated for the 2023 Best Foreign Film Oscar is a mystery. Equally a mystery is why this is just now being released in US theaters. It opened this weekend at my art-house theater here in Cincinnati. The early Sunday evening screening where I saw this at was not attended well (6 people, including myself) If you are in the mood for a top=notch foreign film that frankly is one of the best movies of the year I've seen so far, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.