Following its world premiere at the Filmfest in Munich in early July, “Simon Messner – Aus dem Schatten” (Out of the Shadow) celebrated its South Tyrol premiere in September. At the Filmclub in Bolzano, prominent figures from South Tyrol’s film scene and beyond attended the opening screening, marking the film’s launch in cinemas across the region. The event was attended by director Veronika Kaserer, producer Georg Tschurtschenthaler and the film’s protagonist, Simon Messner.
“Simon Messner – Aus dem Schatten” (Out of the Shadow) is a distinctive portrait of mountaineer and climber Simon Messner, the son of mountain legend Reinhold Messner. In his search for an independent path, Simon learns that he must conquer more than just mountains: he must also come to terms with himself and with the different roles he inhabits – ambitious pioneer, vulnerable athlete and, not least, young father.
The film was originally conceived as a documentary about an expedition to the Karakoram: the first ascent of Chumik Kangri, a 6,000-metre peak. The subtitle ”Aus dem Schatten - Out of the Shadow” might also suggest that the film focuses on Simon’s relationship with his famous father. Director and screenwriter Veronika Kaserer, however, dismisses this interpretation.
“I met Simon and immediately knew that he was the center of the film."
From the outset, she was interested in Simon Messner as an individual: “I met Simon and immediately knew that he was the center of the film. He represents a new generation of mountaineer – a sensitive person who also thinks about his family while he is climbing.”
Naturally, Kaserer was also interested in Simon’s background: “Where does Simon come from? Who is his family? Who is his father? And what is the family history as a whole? It encompasses many universal themes that concern us all.” In this sense, the film is certainly a mountain film, but not a conventional one: “It is not simply about men who want to conquer a mountain. Behind that are people with their emotions, thoughts and personal histories – the experiences that have led them to do what they do.”
The screenplay is a collaborative work by Veronika Kaserer, Simon Messner and producer Georg Tschurtschenthaler, managing director of Berlin-based production company beetz brothers. For Tschurtschenthaler, the project was particularly compelling not only because of the challenges of filming in an uninhabited mountain region, but also because of the relevance and authenticity of its subject: “The mountains and the way we engage with them are quintessentially South Tyrolean topics. It will be fascinating to see how South Tyrol audiences respond to the film.” The most exciting and challenging premiere, he said, was the screening for the protagonist himself.
Simon Messner was also eagerly anticipating the South Tyrol premiere. He saw the film for the third time in Bolzano; the first viewing, he recalled, had been “very difficult”. “It is about seeing yourself through someone else’s eyes – a perspective you are not familiar with, and one that can be challenging. Some scenes are difficult to process. There were also images that neither my sisters nor I had ever seen in that way before,” he said. Ultimately, however, he considers the result a great success.
The audience at Bolzano’s Filmclub clearly shared that assessment.
The film was supported by the IDM Film & Music Commission. It was produced by Berlin-based beetz brothers GmbH, headed by South Tyrolean-born Georg Tschurtschenthaler. Director Veronika Kaserer is also from South Tyrol and lives and works in Berlin. The film’s co-producers include the television broadcasters Sky, ARD, BR and SWR.