PRODUCTIONS: GRESSONEY-SAINT-JEAN

DIRECTOR

PRODUCER

DURATION

VERSIONS

FORMAT

Piero Cannizzaro

SD Cinematografica

26 min,

HD

Beneath the beautiful Monte Rosa mountain chain, which lies between the boundaries of Valle d'Aosta and Switzerland, is the Gressoney valley and the town of Gressoney-Saint-Jean, home to the Walser culture. Handed down from archaic populations of Germanic origin that settled on the slopes of this beautiful Alpine region during the Middle Ages, the Walser culture and its oral traditions have a timeless appeal. From the ingenious architecture of its wooden houses to its Germanic cuisine, from the mysterious "Titsch" language spoken by their German ancestors and the characteristic costumes and headdresses, the Gressoney valley has carefully guarded its ancient roots as well as the beauty of its mountains, also beloved by Queen Margherita of Savoy. Among those who refuse to give up their cultural identity, we find Rudy, a craftsman who works wood just as his father did, Signora Mercedes, who guards the secrets of the Gressoney cuisine, and Carla, a skilled seamstress who designs typical Walser costumes and also teaches skiing. Finally, great ski champions like Arianna Follis, World Gold and former Olympic champion cross-country skiing, and Federico Pellegrino, five times world cross-country champion, live and train in Gressoney.