You will look in vain for top-class freeride action or railslides in this freeride film. With Signatures, Sweetgrass Productions present their second film, which once again offers a different perspective on deep snow and off-piste skiing away from the mainstream. An absolute must-see!
As in the first film, the young production company from Colorado has succeeded in creating a unique film that captures the beauty of freeriding. Divided according to the different seasons, the amateur riders pedal down Japanese mountainsides, sometimes in the deepest powder, sometimes in steep spines, sometimes on lush spring firn.
While the first film, Handcut, focused specifically on the connection with the young producers' home country, Signatures shows the completely different ski culture of Japan. The 51-minute film is told in seasonal segments based on the course of nature. Between the various scenes, individual film and photo artists as well as snowboard builders tell their very own view of the mountains and the beauty of freeriding in a poignant way. Each freeride line is therefore unique and expresses the feelings of the rider.
Nick Waggoner (producer) also knows how to skillfully accompany the individual scenes and seasons with an excellent choice of music. With a mixture of sometimes gentle and sometimes more powerful acoustic guitar sounds, a special mood and magic is created that hardly lets go of the viewer.
Conclusion
Those looking for top-class freeride action or railslides should avoid this film. For those who want to see other cultural perspectives on deep snow and off-piste skiing (or snowboarding and telemarking) away from the mainstream, Signatures is an absolute must-see. Thanks to new and simple direct distribution, it's also worth ordering from overseas.
Film length: 51 minutes
Bonus: -
Price: 25 euros (DVD)/ 30 euros (BluRay)