MIDDLEBURY — The Marquis Theater has partnered with Middlebury Mountaineer/Green Mountain Adventures and the Middlebury Area Land Trust to present two free documentary films on Wednesday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m.
The first film, “Blue Heart,” was made by Patagonia and tells of the struggle to protect the last pristine rivers of Europe. It focuses international attention on the potential environmental disaster that could affect Europe should these rivers be tampered with dam projects among others. It is the centerpiece of the Save the Blue Heart of Europe campaign, which has enjoyed tremendous success. To date, the campaign has collected more than 120,000 signatures, delivered to the London office of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, to protect the last pristine rivers of Europe from numerous projects related to dams.
The film was launched at an outdoor public screening next to a disused dam in Bosnia and Herzegovina in April 2018. It was screened at festivals and film events around the world, from Europe to the United States, from Japan to Australia.
The Second film, “The Last Hill,” a 15-minute film about biking and skiing/boarding from Reno to Mt. Whitney, tells the story of a new kind of journey. “We wanted to see the simple scenery that not many see — the saddle vista. I wanted to re-approach my approach to skiing. Gear, [bike]gears, grub, water and the will to keep pedaling, instead of packing the car and driving to the trailhead. We started on bikes from Reno, Nevada, and pedaled to the base of the Sierra, loaded down with ski and snowboard gear, ready to summit peaks and rip lines under our own power. We biked through winds that knocked us around, up hills that would never end, on roads that shook us; and we skied ice, corn and everything in between. We made it all the way to the top of Mount Whitney — the tallest peak in the lower 48 states.” says film subject Max Hammer.
While admission is free, those willing and able can make a suggested donation of $5 for individuals, $10 for families. All proceeds go to benefit MALT.
Doors at 6 p.m. Movies begin at 7 p.m. The Marquis Theater is located at 65 Main St. in Middlebury.