Symphony on Skis

Symphony on Skis is an exhilarating documentary film from 2017 that captures a profound journey of mountaineering, adventure, and sibling kinship. Directed by Carla Braun-Elwert, this unique film serves as an ode to the adventure spirit and pays heartfelt tribute to their late father Gottlieb Braun-Elwert, a renowned mountain guide. The film stars the director herself, Carla Braun-Elwert, her sister Elke Braun-Elwert, and their trek partner Keith Payne.

Symphony on Skis delves into various themes throughout its runtime and remains intense and deeply emotive. It combines two thrilling elements - mountaineering and skiing into an unforgettable experience. Shot in New Zealand's Southern Alps, the film examines the bond between two adventurous sisters, their love for their departed father, and the stellar mountaineering legacy he left behind.

The film unravels the stunning journey of the two sisters, Carla Braun-Elwert and Elke Braun-Elwert, alongside their friend Keith Payne, as they embark on a challenging skiing expedition to honor their father's memory. Gottlieb Braun-Elwert, their father, was an avid adventurer and mountain guide who established the pioneer concept of 'Ski Touring' for the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association. He mapped out and ventured the vast Southern Alps, leading intrepid groups across high-risk glacial terrains. His daughters decided to pursue his unfulfilled dream - to complete a heroic ski tour across the sharp, icy crests of the Southern Alps. This treacherous trail was one that their father had penciled into his bucket list of expeditions but could never undertake.

The film follows the adventurous trio as they crisscross challenging terrains, crossing over 40 kilometers in 23 days. Through a combination of raw footage and anecdotal flashbacks, the sisters reckon with their father's illustrious legacy. They draw strength from the remarkable mountain stories he shared during their childhood and push their physical and emotional limits in their endeavor to complete this challenging expedition.

As the journey unfolds, the audience is privy to the breathtaking landscapes of the Southern Alps. Striking visuals of crisp white ice, jagged mountain ranges, and sweeping vistas with luminous auroras set the backdrop for their arduous adventure. Each challenging step towards their destination reveals a part of their character, courage, resilience, and the deep-seated legacy their father instilled in them.

Using interviews, narration, flashbacks, and real-time footage, Symphony on Skis explores the thrilling risks and resounding tranquility characteristic of high-altitude mountaineering. It brings to life the passion, enthusiasm, and sense of purpose that propels adventurers to conquer extraordinary feats.

Symphony on Skis is, in essence, a tale of two contrasting elements that forms the perfect symphony of adventure and human connection. While you are invited into the sheer thrill and risk in the world of high mountains and ski touring, it simultaneously delves deep into the indispensable strength of family ties, devotion, and shared heritage. It marks the merging of two unlikely worlds - the physical confrontation with nature's rough extremities and the intimate exploration of individual strength, familial emotions, and legacy.

From a cinematic perspective, the film's uniqueness lies in its incredible camera work and the captivating score that accompanies the narrative. The stunning cinematography showcases New Zealand's rugged beauty with artistic magnificence. It captures the danger, majesty, and serenity of the majestic Southern Alps, allowing the viewers to absorb every sensation felt by the starring trio's on their tough journey. Paired with the powerful score, it creates an engaging ambiance that holds the viewer in rapt attention.

In a nutshell, Symphony on Skis is captivating and engaging - a film that explores not just the natural world, but also the human spirit. It beautifully intertwines the emotions of grief, joy, excitement, uncertainty, and resolution into an cohesive cinematic experience. It challenges the conventional movie narrative by finding drama and tension in a largely untouched wilderness, eliciting the thrills of adventure inherent in human nature. For anyone who loves adventure, exploration, or simply enjoys a good emotive narrative, Symphony on Skis is a must-watch.