Paolo Cognetti’s novel “Le Otto Montagne” (The Eight Mountains) has been beautifully adapted into a film that explores the profound themes of friendship, nature, and the passage of time.
The movie will be released in the Uk on the 12th of May. If you are thinking about how to improve your Italian let’s join my “Italian Course through Italian cinema” and watch the movie for free with a friend. at a Picturehouse cinema of your choice.
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From the opening scene, viewers are drawn into the charming and tender relationship between Pietro and Bruno, two young boys who share a summer of adventures in the countryside. The film captures the beauty of nature in its stunning shots of waterfalls, lakes, and mountains, which serve as both a backdrop and a character in the story.
As the boys grow up and face different aspirations, their friendship faces challenges. The film’s deliberate pacing adds to its contemplative tone, and viewers are taken on a journey that spans several decades, culminating in the reunion of the two friends in their early thirties. The adult portrayals of Pietro and Bruno by Luca Marinelli and Alessandro Borghi are masterful, and the chemistry between the two is palpable.
The film’s soundtrack, featuring the enchanting acoustic ballads of folk artist Daniel Norgren, adds to the meditative atmosphere of the movie. Through seemingly mundane interactions between family and friends, “Le Otto Montagne” asks powerful existential questions about the nature of home, the allure of adventure, and the inevitability of the passage of time.
While the slow pacing of the film may not be for everyone, it ultimately delivers a heartfelt and emotionally resonant story that leaves audiences with much to ponder. “Le Otto Montagne” celebrates the enduring power of friendship, the beauty of nature, and the complexities of the human experience in a way that is both universal and deeply personal.
