On Thursday, February 19, Cinema in Verticale 2026 returns to the Cinema Comunale in Condove with an evening entirely dedicated to one of the most significant figures in 20th-century Italian mountaineering, Walter Bonatti. The documentary "Walter Bonatti in Bardonecchia," directed by Riccardo Topazio, will be presented. It recounts Bonatti's time in the Alpine resort of Bardonecchia using historical materials, testimonies, photographs, and period footage.
Already internationally renowned for his mountaineering achievements and for his participation in the historic Italian expedition to K2 in 1954, Walter Bonatti was appointed by the Municipality of Bardonecchia in early 1955 to work as a mountain guide and ski instructor. During that period, Bonatti—fresh from both great successes and significant personal experiences tied to the mountains—was welcomed by the local community, which awarded him honorary citizenship on August 24, 1955. He remained connected to the area for two years, a period the documentary explores with rigor and humanity, highlighting the relationship between the protagonist and the Bardonecchia community.
"Walter Bonatti in Bardonecchia" is a documentary film that combines contemporary footage, archival images, and personal accounts to provide the audience with an intimate and historical portrait of this chapter in Bonatti's life, highlighting the importance of the bond between the mountaineer and the mountainous territory that welcomed him.
The evening will be introduced by director Riccardo Topazio, author and director of the documentary, with original music composed by Franco Bella. Topazio will guide the audience through the stories and images that make up the film, offering a narrative and cultural context that enriches the cinematic experience and invites reflection on the role of memory, Alpine identity, and community in mountain stories.
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