Germany/Italy 2014 – 52′/70′
Stelvio. Crossroads of Peaceis a documentary film about an extraordinary place in the heart of Europe: The Stelvio Pass.
While the Stelvio alpine glacier is a big tourist attraction for summer skiing, the mountain road to the Pass – a wonder of engineering built in 1825 by the Austrian Empire – entices athletes to retrace the exploits of Fausto Coppi and the cyclists of the Giro d'Italia.
But once upon a time people competed here for non-sporting reasons. One hundred years ago on these peaks, soldiers of the First World War faced their enemy in the bitter cold.
Bombs, trenches, weapons and tins of food can still be found in the snow over a century later. This is Mario's passion. He is a hotel porter and former member of the Italian Alpine brigade who dedicates all of his free time to the memory of those that died on the frontline of The White War.
Mario's story is just one of many which transform this glacier into a microcosm of life. In addition, Stelvio. Crossroads of Peace recounts the stories of Claudia, a forest ranger; Gustav Thöni and Deborah Compagnoni, former Olympic skiers; Arturo Pompa Quintavalla, a mechanic who loves flying and is the inventor of Artic rescue tools which he tests personally on the glacier; Renato, a hotelier who is in love with the silence of these peaks; and Lorenz, a shaman who lives at the foot of the Stelvio road.
Weaving together the stories of these and other protagonists with elegant shots of the majestic peaks (filmed from the ground and the air), the documentary invites the viewer to immerse themselves in the unexpected poetry of this Alpine microcosm. The viewer is accompanied on a dynamic climb which is, above all, a spiritual ascent to discover a glacier transformed from a point of conflict between two hostile forces to a meeting place, a place of change and discovery: a crossroads of peace.
A film by Alessandro Melazzini.
Watch the movie
Partner
- With the support of Banca Popolare di Sondrio
Commemoration
The film is part of the official program of commemorations on the occasion of the centenary of the First World War. Italian Chair of the Council of Ministers, Commossary for the commemorations onthe occasion of the centenary of the First World War.
Aegis
- Ministry of Cultural heritage and Activities of Italy
- National Alpini Association
- Italian Alpine Club
- Region Lombardy
- Autonome Region Trentino-Südtirol
- Stelvio National Park
- Province of Sondrio
- Autonomous Province of Bozen/Bolzano
- Autonomous Province of Trento
- Commune of Bormio
- Commune of Stilfs/Stelvio
Poster and press kit
Press comments
A declaration of love for the Stelvio and the mountains surrounding it.
Persinsala
A documentary worth praising for its truthfulness and quality.
Il Giorno
From beautiful air shots and other scenes taken in difficult climatic circumstances, the film crew has created an outstanding piece of work that charms the audience.
CineClandestino
An exceptionally fascinating documentary. Breathtaking.
Centro Valle
A spectacular journey to the natural beauty of this rough and yet enchanted world of the Stelvio.
Everyyeye
The direction of Alessandro Melazzini is magnificent, the footage by Alessandro Soetje sublime.
Film4life
Long after watching the film, the Stelvio leaves its traces in both heart and memory. What remains is a certain wistfulness and the wish to travel there oneself to personally experience the smells, the taste – and above all, the deep calm.
Dazeba News
Awards
- International Award of Outstanding Excellence at the
- International film Festival for Environment, Health and Culture 2015
- Silver audience Prize at the Grenzland-Filmtage Selb 2015
- Seven Summits Award at the Mountain Film Festival 2015
- Best documentary film at the Tourfilm Karlovy Vary 2014
- Opening film at the Sondrio Festival 2014
Festivals
- Trento Film Festival 2014
- Munich International Documentary Film Festival 2014
- Salento International Film Festival 2014
- Sestriere Film Festival 2014
- World Mountain Documentary Festival of Qinghai China 2014
- Clorofilla Film Festival 2014
- Jahorina Film Festival 2014
- Sondrio Festival 2014
- Tourfilm Karlovy Vary 2014
- Montagna & Dintorni 2014
- Bergfilm Festival Tegernsee 2014
- International Taoyuan Documentary Festival 2014
- Kendal Mountain Festival 2014
- Bansko International Mountain Film Festival 2014
- Mountain Film Festival 2015
- Richmond International Film Festival 2015
- Grenzland-Filmtage 2015
- Valsusa Filmfest 2015
- International film Festival for Environment, Health and Culture 2015
- Ischia Film Festival 2015
- COFFI Italian Film & Art Festival 2015
- International Festival of Outdoor Films 2015
- Foggia Film Festival 2015
- Festival delle Alpi di Lombardia 2020
Social media
Distribution
