PlanetSKI at Much Anticipated Film Premier – ‘Of A Lifetime’
17th November 2024 | James Cove, PlanetSKI
Last modified on November 26th, 2024
It has been one of the eagerly expected films of the season. The North Face film: Of A Lifetime. It follows the De Le Rue family as they embark on the trip of a lifetime in Antarctica.
‘Of a Lifetime’ is a film by Jérôme Tanon and is a celebration of discovery, adventure and the passing of the torch to the next generation against the backdrop of Antarctica.
It chronicles the renowned De Le Rue family’s journey as Xavier, brother Victor and daughter 18-year-old Mila sail across the Drake Passage to ride the steep, icy lines of the White Continent.
Mila’s initiation into big mountain freeriding is captured through personal diaries, showcasing her growth as she faces her fears and embraces the challenge.
Xavier de Le Rue needs little introduction – a multiple winner of the Freeride World Tour, an Olympic athlete and perhaps the greatest male freeride snowboarder of his generation.
His younger brother Victor has followed in his footsteps, and now his 18-year old daughter Mila.
That’s the trio in the front row at the UK premier and private viewing of the film at the Soho Hotel in London.
Image © The North Face’s film: Of A Lifetime/PlanetSKI
I am not a film reviewer or critic by profession but, I have seen dozens and dozens of such ski & snowboard films.
A few weeks ago it was the offerings from Arc-teryx:
Now it is The North Face’s latest film: ‘Of A Lifetime’.
We took our seats, with drinks and popcorn.
Image © North Face: Of A Lifetime/PlanetSKI
I had heard only good things about the film since its World Premiere in Annecy France at a film festival.
Without hesitation, I give it 5 stars and one of the best such films I have seen.
Here’s the trailer:
Antarctica is an unimaginably wild place.
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It was an expedition in itself to get to Antarctica across Drake Passage, the body of water south of Cape Horn.
It connects the southwestern part of the Atlantic Ocean with the southeastern part of the Pacific Ocean and extends into the Southern Ocean.
Image © The North Face’s film: Of A Lifetime/PlanetSKI
The land opens up to large icebergs, steep rideable peaks only possible due to the unique climate caused by the proximity to the sea and fresh snow as far as the eye can see.
Image © The North Face’s film: Of A Lifetime
Image © The North Face’s film: Of A Lifetime
There are more images form the film at the end of this article.
“Last time I was in the Drake passage, I told myself I would never sail across it again. That was 12 years ago,” said Xavier.
It was a five-week expedition taken in autumn of last year.
As well as the riding there were whales alongside the boat, plenty of penguins, Mila’s 18th birthday, watering skiing, ski kiting, the passing of the torch to the next generation, information about climate change’s impact on Antarctica and much, much more.
In my view the star of the film was not the trio of riders, but Antarctica itself.
Image © The North Face: Of A Lifetime
Image © The North Face: Of A Lifetime
It was a voyage of a lifetime against the breathtaking backdrop of Antarctica.
Image © The North Face’s film: Of A Lifetime
Image © The North Face’s film: Of A Lifetime/PlanetSKI
Image © The North Face’s film: Of A Lifetime/PlanetSKI
Image © The North Face’s film: Of A Lifetime/PlanetSKI
Image © The North Face’s film: Of A Lifetime/PlanetSKI
“Hiking up the big faces took about 3 hours but it was obviously at pretty much sea level so relatively straight forward, as opposed to some of the peak in the Himalays that are 5,000m with little oxygen in the air,” said Xavier.
Image © The North Face: Of A Lifetime
Image © The North Face: Of A Lifetime
After the screening the De Le Rue family trio and producer, Jerome Tanon, took questions from the audience.
Image © PlanetSKI
The best question in my view was “When does fear become fun?”
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“The moment you are scared then you have fun,” said Xavier.
“The more you think about it then the scarier it becomes, and once you are strapped in the concentration builds and then you just make your turns.
“But the real fun happens when you have passed the last obstacle, and know you have made it and achieved your goals.
“There is fun in dreaming the impossible and then making it possible.”
Image © North Face: Of A Lifetime/PlanetSKI
Xavier’s daughter Mila had a similar view.
“I am so scared on the climb up on such steep lines, but I see my evolution.
“But when you are strapped in and descending then the fun starts, but the first few turns are the hardest.”
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The film maker Jerome outlined his view of the film and why it is just not another same-old ski film.
Image © PlanetSKI
“I wanted to show wildlife and the landscape so people see such a wild and beautiful place.
“I wanted to document the sailing journey across Drake Passage.
“Antarctica is a pristine place where there is no fishing, no searching for minerals or drilling.
“It is nature at its finest, but the temperature is rising at twice the speed of the global average and we have to talk about climate change.
“My mother was involved in drawing up the international treaty to protect Antarctica and and I am continuing her work.”
Then, as it was a premier, it was time for drinks and nibbles.
Image © PlanetSKI
Image © PlanetSKI
My recommendation is get to see ‘Of A Lifetime’ as soon as you can.
You won’t regret it.
It is being shown across the world with UK dates in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester & London.
Plus out in the Alps:
- Chamonix
- Innsbruck
- Sallanches
- Annecy
- Geneva
- Grenoble
- Lausanne
See here for the full screening dates of ‘Of A Lifetime’.
It will be on The North Face ‘You Tube’ page on December 11th.
Director and Editor: Jérôme Tanon
Cinematography: Guido Perrini, Christoph Thoresen and Jérôme Tanon
Soundtrack: Michaël Stroudinsky and Lola Bastard
Producer: Beanie De Le Rue and Xavier De Le Rue
Colour: Sebastien Baudemont
Sound Mix: Mix&Mouse
Xavier is no stranger to us at PlanetSKI, I rode with him in the Bruson area of Verbier a couple of years ago.
Bruson, 4 Vallees, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
Bruson is a favourite area of Xavier’s as he told me as we hit its slopes together.
Over 15-years ago I followed him on the Freeride World Tour when he competed and I was one of the media judges alongside the legend that is Glenn Plake.
Judging the FWT. Image © PlanetSKI
My vote went for Xavier.
Judging the FWT. Image © PlanetSKI
Now as promised a few more images from Antarctica:
Image © The North Face: Of A Lifetime
Image © The North Face: Of A Lifetime
Image © The North Face: Of A Lifetime
Image © The North Face: Of A Lifetime
Image © The North Face: Of A Lifetime
And just in case you are wondering The North Face name does not come from the legendary north face of the Eiger or the north face of the Matterhorn.
It is the north face of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park in the USA.
So now you know.
