A short portrait documentary on the ascend and battle of Marc Rochat into the elite level of World Cup Slalom skiing.

Interview with Directors Basil Schneeberger and Nolan Büchi

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

BASIL: Nolan and I are childhood friends from back home in Switzerland. We went to middle and high school together, but at that time we weren’t filmmakers yet. After graduating, we all went our separate ways. Nolan ended up going to film school in London and made a thesis film on Marc’s early career. Fast forward 10 years, and I also became a filmmaker. Nolan approached me to ask if we wanted to make another film on Marc. I was totally on board, not only because Nolan and I were friends, but also because a lot had happened in Marc’s career, and we knew he had a special story to tell in the world of sports.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

La Roche is not only an action-packed, thrilling, and inspiring sports story, but also a slice of life that will give each individual, no matter their background, a takeaway on mental resilience. We hope that the film teaches you to embrace the process of whatever you decide to pursue, including the highest of highs as well as the lowest of lows.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

The film is personal because we are telling the story of a close friend of ours. It has a strong universal theme of mental resilience. It portrays a low point in someone’s life in a very humanistic way, allowing us all to apply it to our own life situations. And most importantly, it shows us how it can be done in the simplest way.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

Initially, the film was meant to be strongly focused on Marc’s ascent into the elite level of skiing. While it did become that, it focused more on how Marc overcame his severe injuries and dealt with them on a psychological level. Many expected it to be a pure ski film but were surprised to find that it has less to do directly with skiing and more with what is going on in Marc’s head. We were convinced this was the right way to tell Marc’s truthful story.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

The feedback has been incredibly diverse, coming from both professional athletes and people with no connection to elite sports. It ranged from high school students, who watched the lm for educational purposes, to seniors in their eighties. The film struck an emotional chord with many, who shared that its themes of hardship and overcoming difficult moments are universally relatable. One piece of feedback we received was that the film made them realize how challenging it is to chase a dream and the sacrifices needed to reach the top in a sport. Very few have the resilience to live their dreams.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

We were definitely surprised by how our film triggered discussions on mental health. It showed us how mental health has become a major topic of conversation in today’s society, especially with everything going on in our world. It challenged us to reflect more on our own ways of coping with tumultuous times in our lives and, most importantly, on being hopeful and never giving up. We realized that the feedback and audience were much broader than anticipated. People connected with this story whom we didn’t expect would relate to it. The educational aspect of the film emerged after we started sharing it. Initially, we didn't aim to create a film that could help people through their own hardships and provide valuable lessons. Our goal was to make a film about a childhood friend, and his openness and honesty exceeded our expectations. This allowed the film to convey a message that goes far beyond sports.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

We're keen on sharing Marc's story beyond just the ski and sports community. The film has something to offer, particularly for the younger generation that might be experiencing their first struggles in life and could use a message of encouragement. The story comes from a niche field, and therefore, any platform that shines a light on it will help share this powerful message of resilience.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

At this stage, we are looking for a life beyond the film festival circuit by teaming up with a distributor who could help share Marc's story and introduce the world to the compelling world of alpine ski racing. The sport itself is incredibly thrilling, with compelling personalities from diverse backgrounds. Like many other sports portrayed in films or series (such as on Netflix), we believe there is a significant opportunity to tap into alpine ski racing to create cutting-edge documentary narratives. For this reason, we are also looking for producers and sales agents interested in collaborating with us to continue developing new material for this niche of sports.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

Have you ever had a low moment in your life and you wanted to give up on a dream? Well, how did you deal with that?

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

We are currently developing several projects in the documentary and fiction realms that revolve around stories of unique individuals overcoming difficult times and conveying grounded and universal messages. We aim to create films that don’t just leave you with a simple conclusion but instead lead to meaningful and more complex conversations. Finally, we are keen on finding more sports stories to tell, not only in the ski world but also in other niche universes that might have not gotten enough attention yet.

Interview: June 2024

We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

La Roche

A short portrait documentary on the ascend and battle of Marc Rochat into the elite level of World Cup Slalom skiing.

Length: 28:00

Director: Basil Schneeberger, Nolan Büchi

Producer: Andrea Wüest

About the writer, director and producer:

BASIL SCHNEEBERGER, growing up in Bern, Nashville, and Berkeley, found his passion for filmmaking through still photography within the fashion industry. As his career in the visual medium developed, he found a natural pull towards working with actors and bringing high-concept psychologically driven stories to life. In 2020, Basil earned his MFA in film production from USC, a pivotal moment that led him to establish his own production entity, Heimat Films. Today, he crafts and directs a diverse array of narrative, short documentaries, and branded films, drawing inspiration from his multicultural background. His narrative and commercial work have been showcased at various prestigious festivals such as the Tribeca Film Festival, Zürich Film Festival, Telly Awards, and the American Advertising Federation.

NOLAN BÜCHI, 2012-14 BA Film studies at Met Film School (UK), London. Soon after he began directing documentaries, focusing on sports and the arts. He then transitioned to the commercial world, producing branded films for various luxury brands. Yearning to return to documentaries, Nolan founded Ness Creative.

Key cast: Marc Rochat (Talent)

Instagram: @larochefilm