Just because a movie is based on a true event does not mean that the plot is told the same. The director’s view matters a lot and in infinite storm (‘Infinite Storm’ in English) it is key to understand the obsessions of the woman behind the camera, Małgorzata Szumowska. The renowned Polish filmmaker has a most interesting filmography that delves into the limits of the human being, from the physical to the emotional level. That is why taking on a leading role in one of her films is quite a challenge for the actors she works with, but with Naomi Wattsall tests have been more than passed.
Infinite Storm tells the story of the mountaineer and rescuer Pam Bales (played by Watts)a woman who lived a brutal life or death experience during one of her travels. trekking through the mountains of New Hampshire. The problem is that he decides to undertake that walk with risks of snow storms and extreme temperatures.
Why does someone go down this path?
As the viewer will discover, in this film there is a beautiful story of pain and personal rebirth. The only reason Pam Bales climbed Mount Washington despite her warnings is because she, as she tells her friend (Denis O’Hare), “it’s cheaper than therapy“.
For the protagonist of this story, this trip is a ritual who cannot be missed on the anniversary of the death of his daughters. She goes up and remembers, cries and tries to heal. All on a path that she undertakes alone, or that’s what she hopes. She seeks release or silence, she climbs the mountain even knowing that she may not return. It wouldn’t be suicide, but it could bring him peace. However, everything transforms into something else when he encounters a mountaineer about to die, both beginning an odyssey for survival.
Polish director Małgorzata Szumowska indulges her obsession with human limitations in the face of nature, with Naomi Watts in ‘Infinite Storm’
Where was it filmed?
Although it is set in New Hampshire, Missourithe film was actually shot in Slovenia. Filming took place at the beginning of 2021, in the winter months, which gives us an idea of how cold the entire film crew must have experienced. Stone, a town in the Upper Carniola district of Slovenia, is the main location for filming. Most of the film was shot in the vicinity of the city. Filming took place in Velika Planina, a popular tourist destination, and in the Kamnik Alps.
‘Tormenta infinita’ (2022), de la polca Małgorzata Szumowska
A rescue is more than just saving a life
That is the idea that runs through the entire film, rescuing someone also involves accepting a trauma. The dynamic between the two protagonists is similar to that between a father and a stubborn child: Bales helps a man get to safety, but he is much younger than her and is not prepared for the challenges that the mountain and stormy weather have presented him. Pam orders him firmly as he resists, due to hypothermia and fatigue that make their behavior irrational, and the longer the journey lasts, the more difficult it becomes, just like in real life. But how does the story end? You’ll have to discover it in the movie. Do not miss it!
