TFV's Matt Micucci shares a conversation with director Jan-Willem van Ewijk, the creative mind behind "Alpha.," a film making waves at the 2024 Venice Film Festival's Giornate degli Autori competition. "Alpha." is no ordinary adventure film. It's an existential journey set against the breathtaking and unforgiving beauty of the Alps. The story follows a snowboard instructor whose life takes a turn when his father shows up there. As they venture into the snowy mountains together, unresolved tensions and clashing personalities come to a head, leading to a collision with both the overwhelming nature around them and each other. In this episode, we explore the inspiration behind this icy tale, written by van Ewijk himself, and how casting a real-life father and son added layers of authenticity and raw emotion to the film. We'll also delve into van Ewijk's unique journey from aeronautics to filmmaking, and why he's drawn to shooting in some of the most exotic, and challenging, locations on Earth.
CHAPTERS (00:00) Introducing Jan-Willem van Ewijk and "Alpha." (01:52) From aerospace engineering to film directing (04:23) Extreme sports and filming in the wild (06:38) Father-son relationships and masculinity (11:51) Shooting in the High Alps7 (14:28) "Pacifica" (15:42) Outro