With a title like Circle of Madnessone might think that the new ski and snowboard movie from The North Face It is the winter sports equivalent of Apocalypse Nowshowing athletes mentally and physically consumed by dark, unknown terrain. However, this film takes a lighter and more direct approach, staying within classic ski movie territory.
Circle of Madness
The film, which was released on November 12, 2024 on YouTube, includes traditional scenes of the genre: moments to plan the lines, mandatory jumps and a spectacular final descent. But a classic approach doesn’t mean Circle of Madness is boring; In fact, it obtained the highest rating at the iF3 2024 festival, standing out as the “Movie of the Year.”
Circle of Madness follows the journey of Markus Eder and Victor de Le Rue as they ski and jump down Alaska’s mighty slopes. The film revolves around the overwhelming, and sometimes “maddening,” attraction that Alaska has on winter sports athletes. Alaska drives you crazy if you let yourself be carried away by its charm. Although the references to madness stop there, Eder and Le Rue’s skiing and snowboarding skills seem so surreal that they make you question whether you’re hallucinating.
Both athletes are at the top of their discipline. Markus Eder gained international attention in the Freeride World Tourand in 2018 and 2019 he dominated with lines that combined his experience in slopestyle (he competed in this category at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games) with a style of freeride very aggressive. His ability to execute park tricks on naturally hostile terrain sets him apart, such as when he performed a 360 spin. nose butter at an FWT event in Bec des Rosses, a venue that, by design, is not intended for these tricks.
Victor de Le Rue, for his part, also has his history in the Freeride World Tour. Known for descending the biggest and most challenging slopes, the French snowboarder complements Eder’s style perfectly, forming a dynamic and fluid duo in the different Circle of Madness sequences. Both push each other in a kind of “buddy police” of the snow, although without the typical stumbles.
Behind the camera lies Christoph Thoresenwho already worked with Eder in the production of The Ultimate Runwith more than 17 million views on YouTube. Thoresen demonstrates his cinematic skill in Circle of Madness, with snappy pacing, vibrant colors, and smooth aerial shots. The lack of an overstuffed narrative is a success; the focus remains on the action of Eder and Le Rue and their camaraderie, without unnecessary deviations.
