The adventures of modern-day mountaineers and struggles of a farm family during World War I are featured in two films opening June 29 at Nebraska’s Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center.
Only three centuries ago, setting out to climb a mountain would have been considered close to lunacy. In “Mountain,” director Jennifer Peedom uses drones, Go-Pro cameras and helicopters to follow mountaineers, ice climbers, free soloists, snowboarders, wingsuit flyers and parachuting mountain bikers from Tibet to Australia, Alaska to Norway.
The film, screening through July 5 at the Ross, shows the difficulty and danger in climbing some of the Earth’s natural wonders. Williem Dafoe provides narration from British mountaineer Robert Macfarlane’s memoir “Mountains of the Mind” with a classical score from the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
“Mountain” is not rated.
“The Guardians,” also showing through July 5, tells the story of the women of the Paridier farm as they grapple with the workload while the men are off at the front.
Hortense, who leads the family, reluctantly brings in Francine, an outsider and hard-scrabble teenage orphan, to help out.
New tools allow the women to triumph over the land and newfound independence is acquired through their hard work. However, emotions are stirred as the men return from the front on short leaves.
“The Guardians” is rated R for some violence and sexuality.
For more information, including show times, click here or call 402-472-5353.
