Alpenland

The Alps are not just a spectacular natural landscape in the heart of Europe, but also a habitat for 13 million people in eight countries, whose multitude of languages, dialects, and ways of life reflect the cultural diversity of this unique region. In his documentary film "Alpenland," Robert Schabus embarks on a journey to mountain farms in Austria, small workshops in the village of Premana in Italy, and well-known winter sports centers like Méribel in France and Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, with great empathy and a keen eye. The idyll contains the seed of its destruction. Tourism creates jobs and consumes nature, traffic cuts through the Alpine valleys, and climate change is particularly noticeable in the Alps. At the same time, there are people shaped by tradition, who have been defying a harsh nature for centuries and who do not want to relinquish their habitat. "Alpenland" tells the stories of people whose life perspectives could not be more opposite between economy and ecology – and who, despite difficult conditions, have a deep connection to their homeland.