Hang-gliding film successful

Press, 4 October 1977, Page 35

Hang-gliding film successful

“Off the Edge,” Michael Firth’s film of ski-ing and hang-gliding in the Southern Alps, has been nominated for an Academy Award in America and is attracting big houses in Australian cinemas. Michael Firth, the ftro-

ducer, director, and cameraman for the film, has been in Christchurch with his wife Ann, en route to a ski-ing holiday at Mount Cook. They dropped in at the Savoy Theatre and were delighted that the film

was sold out at almost every showing. But full houses have become the norm for what a “Los Angeles Times” reviewer called a “beautiful and awesome film.” “‘Off the Edge’ has opened in Australia and is

the second-to-top grossing film at Hoyts Entertainment Centre in Sydney,” said the 29-year-old Hamilton film-maker. It was attracting more interest than films such as "A Bridge Too Far,” and “The Deep.” Hoyts- was

the largest entertainment centre of its kind in the world.

The film won a gold medal at the Festival of the Americas and has been nominated for an Academy Award for the best documentary feature. Michael Firth showed the film in the main ski centres of America in the last northern winter, and “the success of these showings has encouraged promoters to open it in the main cnetres early in November.”

The film depicts the adventures of two young men on a ski-ing and hang-gliding expedition in the Mount Cook National Park. It was filmed over two winters and “we took our chances with crevasses and avalanches,” said Michael Firth who had first-hand experience in both.

A snow bridge over a crevasse collapsed under his skis, leaving him dangling from his arms above “nothing.” Another time he cut off an avalanche, on the head wall of the Murchison Glacier, which carried him 10m down the slope. But one of their guides was caught by the avalance and carried 300 m down the mountain. “Part of the success of ‘Off the Edge’ is that we were able to stay there and stick it out for two winters. Thus we were able to capture a lot of moods, and learn the best locations.” Other films made in the region had strict time limits and had to make do with available snow and light conditions. Having unlimited time also allowed the film crew to include features that had not been scripted, such as exploring ice caves. Despite the success of the film, it has not yet returned the cost of producing it, but this is only a matter of time. Contracts for the release of the film in Japan, Europe, and Britain are being negotiated.

“It is amasing to think that the film will soon be shown with a Japanese or German commentary,” said its youthful creator.