Review of Sweetgrass Productions 'Valhalla'
I saw this movie when it premiered in Whistler a couple of weeks ago. Ready for the usual lineup on non-stop ski premieres, I was surprised to find that this isn't your typical ski movie.
There are no skier/rider names, no sections one song long for each athlete, no goofy outtakes. There is less skiiing and riding and more story. If you are hoping for a non stop hour of skiing, best to find a different film. If you are ready for something else, read on.
Valhalla is the fictional story of Conrad, a 30ish young man in search of his dream. He drives his old Beetle from the southwestern US up to the Vallhallas, discovering a commune of like minded skiers living in the forest at Whitewater. There are long haired pretty girls, bearded men, pillow stacks, hammocks, parties and skis galore.
There are a handful of nop notch skiers and riders intermixed in sequences throughout Conrad's journey, lots of pow, and beautiful cinematography. There is a hilarious section of naked skiing, the funniest part in my mind being of one dude wearing just his beacon.
At the end of the premiere, the director told us this film was inspired by Woodstock, and this is evident in the trippy graphics overlayed onto sections of the film along with the hippy vibe throughout. The film speaks to the freedom and soulfulness you feel with no real agenda, and lots of time to ski.
I enjoyed this film but didn't feel much of a real connection to the characters myself. I watched Into the Wild again the night after, and found the opposite – this film moves me right to the heart. They have many similar elements, including the titles (stages of life) and a male lead character in search of his own definition of happiness. I guess we all have our own points of reference, experiences, ways to connect, and we all share a different affinity with certain stories and characters. For me, the heart and soul of skiing comes through more in a movie like All I Can – I'm thinking of Mary + crew from Nelson, driving the old pickup in ski boots.
That being said, it was still great to see a ski film to get amped for the season, and there is no question that this film is beautifully shot and edited. I appreciate that the Sweetgrass folks wanted to do something different with a ski movie, and I think they have achieved that for sure.
What did you think? You can agree/disagree in the comment section below.