TL;DR – A profound exploration of a deep plutonic friendship that lasts through the ages.

Post-Credit Scene – There is no post-credit scene.

Disclosure – I paid to watch this film.

The Eight Mountains Review –

Cinema has a long history of being able to chart romantic or sexual relationships. Indeed, we have entire genres dedicated to their exploration. But what we don’t see engaged with as often is close platonic relationships. Which is odd because everyone has them, but rarely do they become the focus of a film. Well, today, we explore a film that cuts to the heart of just such a relationship as two wayward souls crash into each other and spin apart.

So to set the scene, Pietro’s (Lupo Barbiero) family decided to get out of the clawing bustle of Turin in the summer and escape into the mountains. They picked a town almost abandoned by people leaving to find work to rent a house, which is where he meets Bruno (Cristiano Sassella). It would have been hard for them to miss each other as Bruno was the last child left in the village, but they soon became inseparable. But Pietro is just there for the summer, and Bruno is there for life, which sets them on two very different paths.

This film explores many different male friendships, best friends, the shifting nature of a father/son bond, and adults finding their place in the world. At each level, you can feel the crafted genuineness because you can feel those elements ring true in your life. Those shifting bonds can feel invulnerable in one moment and can fall apart in the next. So, as we follow Pietro (Luca Marinelli) and Bruno (Alessandro Borghi) into adulthood, we become attached to their story and how it pulls at our lives.   

The Eight Mountains also reflects the sad reality of this world that good intentions do not always lead to good outcomes. Pietro’s parents drive to see that Bruno gets an education torpedoes many different people’s lives. Giovanni (Filippo Timi) and Francesca (Elena Lietti) did not intend for that to happen, but it did. Nor did Giovanni mean to rupture the relationship with his son, but he didn’t have the words or skills to connect with someone so different to themselves. These dominoes shape the lives and the silent men of this film in ways that are heartbreaking to watch.

One thing this film has in spades is the natural beauty of the Italian Alps and the Himalayas to help elevate every moment on the screen. You want to run through those hills, climb up those escarpments, and swim in those lakes. Not only is this important from a visual perspective, but it is also crucial because you need to create a bond with that village, so much like Bruno, you get buoyed whenever the film returns. This is necessary because many of the character’s motivations would not have landed correctly without that.

There is not a large cast in this film, but each makes their mark, which is important because that makes the emotion land in your heart. I have a lot of respect for the young actors for so incredibly nailing roles that have a lot of hidden complexity and creating that bond that is the film’s entire foundation. It explores several ideas, but I liked the intersection of whether you are a person who explores the eight mountains or one who stays on the top of the highest mountain.

In the end, do we recommend The Eight Mountains? Absolutely. This meditation on friendship was an emotional exploration of a bond that works through the ages, of silent men trying to connect with one and another and the power that a place can have over you. If you liked The Eight Mountains, we would recommend to you Aftersun.  

By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Twitter Here, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

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Credits – All images were created by the cast, crew, and production companies of The Eight Mountains
Directed by – Felix van Groeningen & Charlotte Vandermeersch
Screenplay by – Felix van Groeningen & Charlotte Vandermeersch
Based on – Le otto montagne by Paolo Cognetti
Music by – Daniel Norgren
Cinematography by – Ruben Impens
Edited by – Nico Leunen
Production/Distribution Companies – Wildside, Rufus, Menuetto, Pyramide Productions,  Vision Distribution & Palace Films
Starring – Luca Marinelli, Alessandro Borghi, Lupo Barbiero, Cristiano Sassella, Filippo Timi, Elena Lietti, Elisabetta Mazzullo, Surakshya Panta, Lupo Barbiero & Cristiano Sassella
Rating – Australia: M; Canada: 14A; Germany: 6; New Zealand: na; United Kingdom: 12; United States: na