When a film is produced by Red Bull, you should expect something designed to get the blood pumping.
Directed by Eric Crosland, La Liste: Everything or Nothing is a harrowing documentary that follows pro skiers Jeremie Heitz and Sam Anthamatten as they attempt to break reacords in the world of freeskiing. When they set their sights on a drop from over 6000 meters above sea level, Heitz and Anthamatten can’t wait to do something amazing. However, when a tragic accident puts the safety of their mission in question, the two men and their filmmaking team must wrestle with the potential consequences of their actions.
While comparisons to last year’s Oscar-winning doc, Solo, are inevitable, La Liste carves out its own legacy in the world of adrenaline-fueled documentaries. (Is that a new category? If not, can it be?) Clocking in at just over 70 minutes, Crosland makes good use of his runtime to keep the film focused. Featuring absolutely stunning footage, La Liste emphasizes just how insane the antics of its protagonists may be. With each snowy peak, Crosland pulls the camera back to reveal their massive size, dwarfing these brave skiers at the same time. At the same time, through the use of GoPro technology, he also gives you a first person view of Heitz and Anthamatten’s antics. By balancing both techniques, we instantly recognize the perils that they’re facing and feel like we’re right next to them throughout.
However, the true value of La Liste lies not in its terrifying stunts but in the lives of the people involved. Through honest conversations, Crosland does an excellent job of making you care about Heitz and Anthamatten. Though they may have a dangerous passion, the young men are simple and likeable. Living for the moment, they want to do the impossible yet even they must face their humanity at times. For example, after an accidental fall causes chaos amongst the crew, Heitz and Anthamatten are left shaken. (Note to the viewer: the footage here may be a little intense for some.) Then, as they wrestle with the ramifications of ‘pushing the limit’, they begin to question why they need to do what they do. For Heitz and Anthamatten, ‘pushing beyond the red line’ is a desire that also carries very real consequences. With death a risk, the two men have a desire to live the incredible but at what cost?
After all, this is a documentary where the story is written by reality and ‘nobody is immune’ from error.
It’s in this conversation that La Liste becomes essential viewing. Knowing that the wrong powder, weather conditions or just a simple mistake could cost them their lives, Heitz and Anthamatten must ask the question of what matters most to them. Even so, they will not be daunted. (“We come back and try, try, try again until it works,” they insist.) For them, fear is a good reason for pause… but not the sole reason to turn back.
Fast and furious, La Liste: Everything or Nothing is an incredible ride. Anchored by incredible landscapes and footage, Crosland creates an element of wonder to the film that keeps your eyes glued to the screen. However, the most intriguing pieces of the film come in the passions of its subjects as they face incredible risk at every drop.
And it could cost them everything to do it.
To hear our interview with director Eric Crosland on podomatic, click here.
La Liste: Everything or Nothing streams on VOD on Tuesday, February 15th, 2022.
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