Holzschnitzer in Tirol

Wood-carvers in Tyrol
by Josef Schwellensattl

Germany, 2008
Digital Betacam
Colour
Length: 44’
Language: German

Italian premiere

Martl Strimmer lives in Lasa, in the Val Venosta. He has become the chronicler of his town. That which others write down or immortalize with photographs, he carves in wood. These are stories of wayfarers who traded chickens and of fights in the tavern; a carnival parade and the solemn procession of the Assumption with the priest under the baldachin, the men and women, the band, the firemen, and the Schützen. Jakob Bachmeier of Krimml, in the Pinzgau region of Austria, is also a chronicler. His interest, however, is confined to the day the animals return to the malga (shepherd’s hut). Using the cows in his barn, Rosetta and Fiera, as models, Jakob carves beautiful corteges of cows with festive bells around their necks. Pius Unterkircher lives in the Val Pusteria and raises sheep. As Jakob carves cows, Pius immortalizes his sheep. All three men are farmers and began carving by chance. Their works have the simplicity and grace of the world that they carry in their hearts.

Josef Schwellensattl
Josef Schwellensattl was born in the Val d’Ultimo in 1954. After receiving a diploma at the Art School of Ortisei he moved to MonacoMunich (Bavaria) where he attended the Hochschule für Film un Fernsehen. Since 1981, he has worked as an author and director for the Bayerisches Fernsehen.

Director: Josef Schwellensattl
Subject: Josef Schwellensattl
Screenplay: Josef Schwellensattl
Photography: Rupert Heilgemeir, Heinrich Harrer
Editing: Ruth Hufgard
Sound: Rolf Lorentschk

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