6 BELOW/6 BELOW: MIRACLE ON THE MOUNTAIN
US, 2017, 98 minutes, Colour.
Josh Hartnett, Mira Sorvino, Sarah Dumont, Kale Culley, Jason Cottle.
Directed by Scott Waugh.
This film is based on a true story, the story of Eric LeMarque, his family background, oppressive father, concerned mother, seemed to him as a boy, as a young man, the father setting high expectations and abusive of his son.
Le Marque was a hockey player, and there are flashbacks scenes to hockey games.
However, the focus of the film is his drug addiction, preparation for a court appearance, his going into the mountains on the days before, the exhilaration of being in the mountains, that he is being lost, surviving, limited food, water, the need for shelter, physical condition, health.
He is played by Josh Hartnett with Mira Sorvino as his mother. Sarah Dumont appears as a local worker who gives him a lift to the snowfields but then is involved in the organisation of the helicopter rescue.
The actual Eric Le Marque appears at the end of the film – two legs amputated, but his appearing with young people, exhorting them, morale boosting.
- A story of endurance? A story of hardship, change of heart?
- The mountain location photography, beauty, harsh, night and day? Whether? The ski resort? Flashbacks to home? Flashbacks to hockey games? The musical score?
- True story, the book by Eric Le Marque, his appearance at the end of the film?
- The focus on the days before his court appearance, the pressure on him, drugs, the anguish of his mother, her insistence on the court appearance? His going on to the mountain, his skills, enjoyment? The change of weather, going out, getting lost, the many days, sheltering, limited food, snow and water, shelter, physical injury, physical health?
- Flashbacks, his relationship with his mother, the harshness of his father, his father putting him down, expectations? The hockey games, his skills, clashes with the referee? Friends, drugs?
- The encounter with Sarah, her giving him a lift, her role with the rescue, his mother coming and putting pressure, Sarah remembering giving him the lift, the organisation of the helicopters, the searches, the style for rescue?
- The aftermath, the rescue, Eric losing his legs, his talking with the children, motivations and morale?
- The effect of the blend of mountain adventure, being lost and rescued, change of heart and morale boosting?
