am stein

Only few of the elevated areas in the Alps have retained some of their magic inspite of the invasion of the modern business of leisure and the aberrations of marketing nature. One of these elevated, quite secluded areas – a periodical area of living on the border of "wilderness" – is the eastern Dachsteinstock of the northern limestone Alps in Austria.

AM STEIN follows the lost myth, the spirit of certain distinguished and illreputed locations of this area, but also shows the real life on one of this elevated alms and its people, the interests and conflicts of the farmers in the traditionell tourist area.

Geomancy, mythical tales, and the echo of magical perceptions are offset by the facts of the daily course of the farmers, the rhythm and course of the summer in the mountains, but also by the expectations and imaginations of a tourist culture. That what seems to be familiar and what is taken as a matter of facts, suddenly becomes alien and vice versa.

Documentary film, Austria 1995/96
Super16/blow up 35mm 1:1:66 Dolby stereo digital 110 mins.
Book: Othmar Schmiderer/Bodo Hell
Director, camera: Othmar Schmiderer
2nd camera: Elke Harder
Assistant director/organisation: Mario Bräuer
Sound: Ulrich Goebel
Editing: Daniel Pöhacker
Music: Uli Scherer
Production: Prisma Film, Michael Seeber, Heinz Stussak

Festivals
1997: Diagonale Graz, Montagne Trento Filmfestival Int., Hofer Filmtage, Vision du Réel, Cinema documentaire Nyon (Wettbewerb: Prix Jeune Public)

TV-Broadcast:
ORF, SWF, NDR

Distribution: Cinemtograph Innsbruck
VHS: Othmar Schmiderer

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