"The Eight Mountains" It's A Friendship Story That Will Forever Inhabit Val D'Aosta From Book To Film

Jury Prize at the seventy-fifth edition of the Cannes Film Festival and awards from the public: with The Eight Mountains in the cinemas of Italy we can put ourselves in the hands of emotions. That the Movie is an extraordinary adaptation of the book of the same name by Paul Cogniti, winner of the 2016 Strega Prize, is nothing new. On the other hand, the fact that the film is very successful in all aspects: acting, staging, scenography, is a conquest for international cinema. The adventure, which needs no introduction, is interpreted by the acting couple Luca Marinelli (as Peter) e Alessandro Borgo (in Bruno), Faces of a Modern History in the Heart of the Mountain – Location and Concept. Beyond the most obvious themes and reflections – friendship, memory, the passage of time – the plot inhabits a natural phase of enchantment. And to the question: “Where was The Eight Mountains filmed?” we answer: one Val d’Aosta.

The Eight Mountains, Movie

Paolo Cognetti, in written history, geolocated fiction and characters in Grana, a very small village at the foot of Monte Rosa. Respecting the inspiration, directors Felix Van Groeningen and Charlotte Vandermeersch’s cameras shot most of the film in the smallest native region. Following in the footsteps of literature, the film follows the paths of the most famous hikes in northern Italy: thus on the big screen Luca Marinelli and Alessandro Borghi, who, as revealed by Vision Distribution, learned to hike in the mountains from Paolo Cognetti themselves, move in the Val d’Ayas (the same as in the novel), especially in the area of Estoul – a hamlet of Brusson. Back in 2020, “the writer met with the directors to show them the places that had inspired him,” explained Il Corriere della Sera.

The Eight Mountains, Movie

The preparation of the film took a long time: among the many activities, Luca Marinelli lived in the valley to get attuned to it and the directors learned Italian to immerse themselves in the culture. Peter’s house, as we see it in the cinema, is actually the old school of Graines – the village is 1375 meters above sea level. Exposed stones and signs of age, the building, now owned by the village consortium, has lived a second (but short) life under the eyes of the cameras – after all, the production has covered part of the cost of housing. Other film locations: i Frudier Lakes, at 2400 meters above sea level, one of the most enchanting natural pools in the region. The alp in the village can also be seen in the story Merendioux – in the book the so-called Barmadrola restructured by Bruno. The chosen building, outdated and partly dilapidated, has been renovated thanks to the means of production. Note for those who are curious: The refuge is easily accessible on foot and is off the beaten track. Because of this, the crew had to enlist the help of a helicopter to bring in their equipment. “I never thought I would find a friend like Bruno in life, nor was this friendship a place to put down roots and wait for one.” How can a valley.

The Eight Mountains, Movie