Ruedi Beglinger is a Swiss ski mountaineer and mountain guide. He lives in a hut in the Selkirk Mountains in Canada with his wife and two young daughters. A Life Ascending revolves around the life of the Swiss climber and living with constant danger.
Ruedi is an experienced mountain guide who is one of the most respected guides in North America. Almost every day during the winter months, he leads his guests from his self-built mountain hut into the surrounding ski touring area. By building his mountain hut on the Durand Glacier in the 1980s, he created a secluded paradise that he makes accessible to his guests. In 2003, he was leading a large group when a huge avalanche buried 13 of them. However, despite all efforts, help came too late for seven ski tourers.
"You don't always have to climb hard, just walk up a nice mountain."
Producer and director Stephen Grynberg knows how to shed light on the lonely but happy life in the mountains in sensitive interviews and is deliberately gentle in his approach to the great tragedy. It becomes clear how differently the survivors deal with the loss. Filmic or musical effects are almost completely dispensed with. It is precisely this economy that draws the viewer's attention to the essentials. Instead of the tragic avalanche accident, the focus is on family cohesion in a remote mountain hut and daily life in an often hostile environment.
Length: 58 min
Bonus: -
Price: n/a. Order currently only via the online store at alifeascending.com with registration. Official release in fall 2011.