Interview: ‘The Eight Mountains’ Administrators Felix van Groeningen and Charlotte Vandermeersch
by Alex Billington
August 23, 2023
“Sure, we wish to construct this home actually for actual at this altitude. Sure, we actually need go on a glacier.” They went to any size to make this movie really feel actual, and genuine, and it is all the higher for it. One among my favourite movies of 2022 (and 2023) is known as The Eight Mountains, an Italian drama about two associates who grew up within the mountains. I’ve been raving about it for the reason that 2022 Cannes Movie Competition, seeing it once more at one other competition in late 2022, following its launch in spring of 2023. Co-directed by Belgian filmmakers Felix van Groeningen & Charlotte Vandermeersch (who’re additionally married), the movie is a outstanding have a look at how massively highly effective mountains are in shaping the lives of people. I get all emotional simply occupied with it, as I am an enormous mountain nerd myself (I even as soon as went to Nepal to trek across the Himalayas, too). I used to be fortunate to get time to interview Felix & Charlotte earlier in 2023 – I would been chasing them all through 2022 and earlier this yr after they confirmed up at Sundance to display screen the movie. Regardless of when, I am blissful to share this dialog with the 2 of them – discussing the elements of the movie that I believe are really extraordinary.
The Eight Mountains (initially Le Otto Montagne in Italian) is written & directed by Felix van Groeningen & Charlotte Vandermeersch; it is tailored from the novel of the identical identify written by Italian writer Paolo Cognetti. It stars Luca Marinelli as Pietro, and Alessandro Borghi as Bruno, two boys who develop into finest associates rising up within the Italian Alps close to Turin. The movie follows them as they develop up and develop into males, every heading down their very own paths: Bruno digs deeper into the mountains, constructing his personal mountain hut from scratch; Pietro explores additional, ultimately touring to the Himalayas and assembly a Nepali girl. The movie has performed on the Cannes, Munich, Melbourne, Zurich, Busan, Zagreb, Cologne, Vilnius, Tallinn, & Sundance Movie Festivals, selecting up tons of awards alongside the best way. After premiering in artwork home theaters within the US earlier in 2023, it is now out there to stream on the Criterion Channel. I am keen on this movie, and have written about it many occasions. Right here is my unique evaluation from Cannes 2022. I additionally love the soundtrack by Swedish musician Daniel Norgren – go to his official web site. My chat with Felix & Charlotte begins beneath.
Earlier than making this – how intently related to mountains had been you? What’s your relationship with mountains? Did this movie carry you deeper into understanding and appreciating them?
Felix van Groeningen: My private connection is – I have been going to this place within the middle of France, in between volcanoes…. However not so excessive. But, a really distant place. The closest massive store is 20 kilometers. And the most important metropolis, it takes an hour to get there, so very distant. And that place, my mother and father went to stay there first… Then they got here again to Belgium. It was even earlier than I used to be born. And we saved going there. My mother and father constructed a home there, I’ve a part of my household who began dwelling there. So I’ve this place that I knew from holidays, that I [also] go to once I have to really feel grounded, when town’s an excessive amount of. I’ve my private Bruno, additionally, who’s my cousin, who nonetheless lives there, though they journey greater than Bruno did. So I’ve that connection. This very pure place on this planet the place time stands nonetheless… The place you’ve gotten very pure lakes and the place you encounter your self with the mountains as a backdrop. And with individuals from there that we all know very nicely. And my mom had a relationship with a man from there who was a mason.
Charlotte Vandermeersch: They construct their very own homes.
Felix: We constructed our personal home. And earlier than I learn the e-book, really I began to accidentally… go into the upper mountains. And I did go to the Alps with a buddy for 4 days to do a hike. And we slept in mountain huts and it was a part of my life, in some way. After which I learn this e-book and I am like, okay, I wanna get to know extra. And Charlotte is somebody who actually seeks journey. Mountains, perhaps not essentially, however she did go by herself to the Amazon. She did a hike within the Indian Himalayas. She did the Trans-Siberian. So she’s very a lot an adventurer. In that sense, she additionally had found the mountains, or in being at a really distant place.
Charlotte: I mixed for the movie this sense that you simply get, whether or not it is standing in entrance of an ocean, on a seashore on their own at night time, as an example. The sensation that you simply get there. Or once you’re within the Amazon and also you journey for days and days. Now it is quicker, as a result of they’ve quick boats. However earlier than, it was very sluggish and also you get deeper and deeper into the forest and the emotion that brings. Then I went to the Himalayas with my finest associates. And also you hike for six days in a really distant space, solely by foot. And I bear in mind the emotion of it. After just a few days, it actually received to me. Once you really feel like a tiny human, however very related to the entire universe – such as you’re tiny, but it surely’s stunning. One thing like that…
And that I mixed with rising up within the countryside. My father particularly being associates with all of those previous farmers. We’d go go to them in these tiny farmhouses. Simply seeing the best way they lived. Now these individuals have died and issues are actually altering now… However this previous world of farming, dwelling along with your animals, you already know? It is one thing that I knew from my upbringing.
As a mountain lover myself, I watch so many Hollywood films that contain mountains and, if it isn’t totally CGI on a soundstage, they only shoot it at a ski resort. And this does not really feel genuine, irrespective of how arduous they struggle… However from the primary shot of this movie – I am in. I am offered. After which there’s 2 + 1/2 extra hours of simply every part stunning. This isn’t one thing we see usually, and I admire your dedication. So I am questioning, how arduous was that? How a lot convincing did you must do to get everybody on board to movie this authentically like that?
Charlotte: I’ve to say, Felix is a pure. Once you go for it, you [really] go into it. And then you definitely drag everyone alongside. That is a giant a part of it.
Felix: Yeah, certain — I’ve that. I suppose as a director, you might want to or you aren’t getting something made. However we had wonderful producers, I’ve to say, from the start.
Charlotte: Additionally.
Felix: They had been all in. After all at moments, they requested us if we might carry the script down as a result of there have been perhaps too many taking pictures days. And different issues that got here up… However when it comes to the imaginative and prescient we had or the imaginative and prescient we developed whereas we had been making ready and growing the film, as a result of upfront I did not [hold back]… The way in which we had been going to shoot it was [figured out] throughout the growth. We mentioned, sure, we wish to construct this home actually for actual at this altitude. Sure, we actually need go on a glacier. In order that they went alongside… After which we realized as we had been going alongside that it was price it, that it was working and that we needed to push it additional. We reached a restrict, at some moments, the place our Italian line producer was like, “that is not potential.” The actors are by no means going to sleep in a mountain hut. With the remainder of the crew. And we’re like, sure, they’ll.
Charlotte: They’ll. And so they did.
Felix: And so they did. So we simply – we saved on saying like, sure, we will try this. However how I do not know. Let’s determine it out. I suppose the stress you absorb making that work is that, you do not know. And there is no person who actually takes duty. As a result of no person is aware of. So you must carry guides. And the road producer and anyone who… the primary assistant [director]. However no person actually is aware of. So you must… converse every part by and take a look at it and go to the restrict and see what works and what would not work—
Charlotte: As a result of issues are scary at first. They appear a bit threatening with quite a lot of dangers and the way and in the event you get pushed again by that, yeah, you must be brave, and consider it is potential.
Felix: [Our DP] Ruben Impens and I and Charlotte, I imply… Particularly Ruben and I, we return 20 years. And he is an unimaginable drive in that, too. To foresee issues and to make them occur and…
Charlotte: And be brave and never make errors, and “we will make it work.” And be very versatile. He is all the time versatile and going for it. Yeah.
Felix: I am actually blissful that you simply say that that the mountains work so nicely. I did not know if we had been going to have the ability to try this. However you learn it [the novel] and also you begin to write and pictures begin to come after which and also you begin to get to know the place. And it is simply one thing that varieties itself, I suppose.
Charlotte: Nicely, what’s loopy with you is that… We’d take a helicopter – after which all of it felt like, wow, it is going to value some huge cash, to do some location scouting on this helicopter. Then being within the Alps – “May we land on that mountaintop? May you land on this mountaintop?” Perhaps it is just a bit bit harmful. “Oh, we are able to attempt?” Issues like that. You’re feeling like wow, what are we doing? It is loopy. However then we’d get again down and we assess what we have seen and what we have discovered after which Felix would say, okay, so what we have discovered—okay, yeah, that is extra fascinating, this and that. Nicely, let’s go there once more. And so they’re like, “once more?” Yeah. We have to go once more. And I am like, actually? “Yeah.” Then a 3rd time. “Yeah.”
And I would be like, wow, this course of of constructing this movie and attending to know a spot – it is actually a giant effort. It is going there once more. Typically I used to be like, what? What ought to I be seeing now that I have never seen earlier than… Not understanding the method. All proper, now I can see how issues advanced each time extra footage, extra, extra, extra, yeah – it is this complete evolution.
Felix: And I believe the mountain actually works as a result of it is also it actually discovered its place within the script, proper? Within the storytelling. In operate of… how the story strikes and what it means for the characters or how a personality turns into a part of this place, that you simply get to know kind of within the visible geography of the film.
Charlotte: And the way necessary it was to defend, as an example, the stroll up. [The characters] first strolling up [the mountain in the film]. Then with the mules… The trouble it takes. And we wanted pictures alongside the best way. These are issues that once you have a look at it and they’re strolling up, the producer’s saying, “why do not you simply lower these moments in between?” They begin strolling after which they get there. Nicely, it is a massive factor defending this as a result of you might want to really feel the trouble and to really feel how far issues are. And with the bike, it is a lengthy trip on the bike. After which they should stroll extra… It is like a protracted stroll. So that is—this was a job. And realizing how necessary this was. You possibly can’t simply soar and be there.
Yep, that is precisely why I am asking about this. I’ve achieved one of many massive treks in Nepal, too. And I discovered about how a lot effort and vitality it takes. That is one thing that comes by in your movie that I do not suppose I’ve ever seen in another mountain movie. In documentaries, sure, however in a function, that is very uncommon to see. Because of this it moved me so deeply. How a lot – how devoted you had been to bringing all of those lived-in, correct experiences of the mountains to the display screen and never chopping them out and never shortchanging it wherever you go…
Felix: The e-book set the idea of that, too. The e-book makes you understand extra of what the mountains are. And makes you look otherwise on the mountains. So arriving there, having learn the e-book, experiencing it ourselves, it turned—our expertise turned a part of the film. That is why we additionally once we went to Nepal, we mentioned, we’re actually going to do the trek. So we did it for actual.
Good.
Charlotte: Yeah. As a result of if not, the choice was taking jeeps and going alongside the paths which have been walked – the large touristic Annapurna trek. However how are we going to movie him attending to a really genuine place alongside there? Then we’d’ve needed to stage that. As a result of we did not have the time to organize additionally. It was throughout COVID-19 occasions, the nation’s locked up, so the second it opened up, we simply went there and had a month to movie…
Oh, wow.
Charlotte: And yeah, we shot quite a lot of nice materials. It was a really traumatic month, however we did rather a lot. And all of us misplaced like eight kilos or ten kilos. As a result of it was so bodily.
I additionally wish to praise the pacing of the movie, and talk about how exquisitely paced it’s. At first, I assumed the entire movie was going to be about these two children. Then you definately transfer on as they develop up, then they exit and expertise life… In any case of this time, I nonetheless I needed to maintain following their story. I needed to maintain discovering out the place they will find yourself and what is going on to occur subsequent. My first thought is – how far more footage do you’ve gotten of the 2 children? May you’ve gotten made an entire film with simply them?
Felix: Nicely, really we lower probably the most from the youngsters. We did have extra.
It felt prefer it… I might’ve spent the entire time watching their story.
Charlotte: We cherished the youngsters’ part.
Felix: [There’s] one other complete movie. However…
Charlotte: It was actually arduous to chop there. That was actually a strain level that we had from up above.
Felix: Sure. Sure. For us it was – what do I wish to say? We had been confused in some unspecified time in the future within the edit. Once we first confirmed the movie to individuals, we thought adults… the second and third half, for instance the constructing of the home and every part else, was too sluggish. It was actually taking an excessive amount of time. However within the first lower, we realized all these scenes, they’re working. They’re working. Let’s give it time. Let’s give it time. Nevertheless it did really feel that the movie was in some way out of steadiness. And we thought – we have now to go quicker there. After which reactions from individuals concerned and never concerned had been reasonably the alternative – the start is tougher to get into after which the remainder is de facto working. Then it was about discovering that steadiness. And certainly strain from above to get the film underneath 2 + 1/2 hours. And to chop the start. After which there have been moments the place we tried that, the place we had been like, okay, it really works. It is higher. The whole lot’s there… it is usable, nicely informed, and it really works. After which at moments, we did attempt to went additional and had been like, however this… no, we do not wish to go there. We’ve defended it! To present the youngsters time all by the method, within the writing, each [step of the way]—
Charlotte: At all times we wanted to defend that. “Why do not we simply begin off after they’re already associates?” No. We we wish them to really feel their loneliness. It is transient, however you are feeling why. It is also one thing intuitive. However they must get to know one another. And also you see how completely different they’re, there’s one thing energetic about their coming collectively. These had been issues that had been… underneath assault usually.
Felix: However in some way the primary cuts of the scenes after they had been adults… In pacing, rather a lot modified all through the entire edit – because it goes. However then again, it very naturally discovered the proper pacing and it was near what we felt on set.
Charlotte: It was near what occurred on set. It was very pure in that method. Did not want to control.
You imply – you can get a way for all the story if you are on set as to what you’re constructing and getting from these performances, proper whereas it is occurring?
Charlotte: That they had very pure pacing between the actors… Once you ask them about it, I heard them reply, it was already within the script. Each pause, each—we gave quite a lot of silence and quite a lot of “air”, for instance, area in between reactions to one another. It was not written “they’re reacting on a regular basis.” Give it time. Breathe. Assume. Take it in. Give it again. After which they only naturally delivered this dialogue and we didn’t want to control that rather a lot within the edit. It simply labored the best way it was. That was… fairly cool.
Did you check display screen the movie with a public viewers? Or solely a household and associates preview?
Felix: Household and associates.
I am curious: do you belief a public viewers to really provide you with correct suggestions? Or would you reasonably desire to belief yourselves as filmmakers and storytellers extra?
Felix: Is determined by the temper I am in. I like to point out it to individuals. Beause as you watch along with individuals, you watch by their eyes additionally. Typically it isn’t a lot the dialogue afterwards that’s fascinating, however your expertise as you are watching it with them.
You converse so confidently about your modifying right here that I am considering, okay, you’ve got clearly not solely borrowed from a few of the reactions of those individuals, but in addition made certain to remain true to what you consider in, when it comes to telling the story correctly.
Charlotte: Certain. We did – we confirmed it to individuals, this and that, but it surely’s all the time simply us taking a look at one another after the screening, sharing our emotions about it. And if one thing comes again from considered one of your mates, or an individual that was there, you are feeling assured, as a result of yeah, I perceive that. It is a reflection of your individual thought.
Felix: Yeah. The interplay with the producers was actually necessary and delightful at occasions. Different moments it was tougher, however on the whole – and particularly the primary occasions they watched – it was extremely productive, I’d say.
Charlotte: They’ve all the time been very supportive. To begin with, they’re good individuals. They’re very supportive. They know that is what is going to assist. The producers gave us confidence… Allow us to simply discover out the place we’re.
Felix: Nevertheless it’s a course of. At first, you need attempt various things – with voiceover, too. You are still determining what it needs to be. And each step of the best way… you wish to keep open. Your feeling needs to be proper… You must keep true to a sure feeling, however then again, you must preserve experimenting – I believe, that is what makes it thrilling.
Charlotte: I assumed it was a fascinating journey… You write and also you rewrite and then you definitely put together and then you definitely shoot after which issues get blended up once more and so for the fiftieth time, you assess this scene and ultimately you do not actually know anymore what you’re conveying. So how a lot data do you might want to put in? How a lot are you able to simply miss? And it is already there. That is the place the editor is tremendous necessary. Nico Leunen is a good editor. He actually feels what it wants, what it would not want. How one can preserve some thriller, he actually understands that. What you want, what you do not want. That is an fascinating journey, I believe. That is what modifying is all about. Since you stuff it with a lot element… And then you definitely discover out.
I additionally should ask in regards to the alternative to make use of Daniel Norgren for the soundtrack. I wish to know in regards to the story of the way you discovered him and the way you ended up considering that he is the proper particular person for this? I believe he is excellent, I like his songs on this movie, it is a magical match. Why did you select him to attain this movie?
Felix: We had gotten to know an album by him referred to as “Alabursy”, which, a few tracks or many of the tracks from that album ended up within the film.
Charlotte: That is actually the inspirational album.
Felix: Yeah. Charlotte received it from her brother. And in order that’s how we received to know him. I began listening to rather a lot whereas I used to be writing and dealing on the mission. And I introduced it up in some unspecified time in the future with Charlotte and with Nico. And so they had been each very excited. We determined yeah, let’s simply go for it. We reached out earlier than—a very long time earlier than taking pictures. Six months earlier than taking pictures. And he was very a lot . He learn the script. Liked it. He needed to do it. After which… one thing went off. It simply turned unusual and he backed out. He mentioned that he did not have time. That he needed to concentrate on different issues.
Charlotte: He is simply 250%. He abruptly realized that this might dominate his personal life and work after which that he wouldn’t be utterly free additionally, as a result of it is a movie. You will have a giant manufacturing firm behind it. You realize? And he backed out.
Felix: It was unusual, beause we had nice contact and abruptly, he was gone. And we had been actually mourning. We had been like, oh fuck, we actually do not know what we will do…
So I began to attempt to discover different choices. And really Charlotte is the one who was all the time like, no, no, no, no. And I used to be prepared to maneuver on… We’ve to search out anyone else. And he or she saved on saying, it isn’t higher, it isn’t higher. And we tried all completely different sorts of music… We weren’t making an attempt to repeat his type with a distinct artist, that wasn’t going to make sense. We had been parting another way. Till – as we had been already taking pictures the film, in between blocks, we hear a track of his on the radio and we’re each actually moved and we understand it is him and I say to Charlotte, we’re simply going to ask him if we are able to use his songs. And that could possibly be an answer. And we did and he instantly mentioned sure. And that is how we began the dialog once more. As a result of he was nonetheless tremendous excited by the mission. And he was like, “oh, like that method? That is advantageous.” And what we hoped would occur, did occur, is that in some unspecified time in the future he’d prefer it. He began to ship stuff that he hadn’t launched but and it turned a part of the film. Ultimately, though he did not do rather a lot for it, it turned a really inventive collaboration with him.
Charlotte: Nothing was composed for the movie.
Ohhh, wow, okay…
Charlotte: However he composed quite a lot of soundscapes, simply by himself. And he had this in his drawer. And a few [sounds] discovered their method into an album as an intro or an outro. He usually makes use of that. However then he simply informed us, oh I’ve this left, or I’ve this. After which he informed us – that is the movie I used to be making music for with out having a movie. In order that was nice. That was simply stunning.
Yeah, it labored out fantastically.
Felix: It was meant to be, in some way, and it labored out after a protracted trajectory.
Charlotte: Yeah, he got here too, for opening night time. It was nice.
Thanks to Felix & Charlotte for his or her time and likewise to Cinetic for arranging this interview.
Felix & Charlotte’s The Eight Mountains gained the Jury Prize award on the 2022 Cannes Movie Competition final yr. The movie initially opened in US theaters beginning April twenty eighth, 2023 earlier this yr. It is also out there to observe streaming on Criterion Channel proper now. Listed as considered one of Alex’s High 10 Movies of 2022 (screened at a number of festivals). Value a watch anytime – benefit from the exhilarating expertise of this cinematic journey.
 |