The Eight Mountains (Le Otto Montagne), directed by Felix van Groeningen and Charlotte Vandermeersch, is a wonderful story about friendship, mountain climbing, mystery, and passion, spirituality. It follows two men with different backgrounds who reconnect in the Italian Alps, but there’s more to the story. The movie expresses a lot through simple dialogue, breathtaking views, and great music/sound. It won an award at the 2022 Cannes International Film Festival and was made in collaboration with Italy, Belgium, and France.
From the first scene it’s noticeable that a movie has a slow pace and we can also hear it in Sound Design. The first scene uses silence to set the mood. As characters start a journey in the mountains, you hear calming sounds like footsteps, a distant hammer, and the rustle of wind, creating a feeling of closeness and calmness, with an air of mystery and loneliness.
The music, influenced by Tibetan culture, supports the atmosphere of the story. The chosen songs and lyrics fits very well to the plot of the story. There is one moment when in the dialogue is said “I am coming home” and this phrase is enhanced in this same scene by the song.
Throughout the film, drone sounds with low rumbles come in, especially in mountain scenes, adding tension and quiet. The drone is used in different ways, like during sunrise when the drone gets pitched higher, helping to keep the quiet moments and a bit of tension.
At the end, there’s no music during the credits, just the sound of birds in the background. This emphasises a focus on quietness, giving a space to reflect on movie and life.
References:
1. https://www.worldliteraturetoday.org/2018/march/eight-mountains-paolo-cognetti
2. https://seventh-row.com/2023/07/13/the-eight-mountains-film-vandermeersch-van-groenigen/
3. https://www.mvtimes.com/2023/09/06/friendship-grows-mountains/
