“Straordinarie”: a documentary about six mountain hut women

Our commitment to the empowerment of women continues, this time with not just one, but six stories to listen to and cherish.

At LaMunt, we are proud to have collaborated on the making of “Straordinarie” — a connection that came about almost by chance, as often happens with the most genuine encounters. This is a personal project by Giorgia Lazzarin, who with her sensitive gaze and attentive soul gives voice to six stories of extraordinary women, deeply connected to the places they have chosen to inhabit and love day after day.

A year ago, we had the pleasure of meeting Giorgia and part of the team that would create this documentary. Listening to the vision that moved them, we immediately recognised ourselves in the values they wanted to share with this special project: authenticity, connection with nature, feminine strength and delicacy.

The path these six women have chosen is far from ordinary. Becoming a hut keeper is a decision rooted in passion. It requires love for the mountains, a spirit of sacrifice, and unwavering determination. Despite the often demanding conditions in which they live and work, these women show us — day after day — that when you find your place in the world, no obstacle is too great.

As a videomaker, Giorgia decided to get involved in a unique project in which passion for the mountains is the common thread. For Giorgia all started from reading the story of the mountain hut keeper of the Nuvolau Refuge: seeing herself reflected in it, she felt the urge to better represent a world where two realities little associated with the female figure - directing and refuge management - meet and reinforce each other.

The documentary was filmed in four Italian regions - Veneto, Lombardy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Trentino-Alto Adige - and tells the story of life of six mountain huts:

• Hut Roda di Vael (TN) - run by Roberta Silva

• Hut Re Alberto I (BZ) - run by Valeria Pallotta

• Hut Contrin (TN) - run by Francesca Debertol

• Hut Sasso Bianco (BL) - run by Elena Bergamini

• Hut Pordenone (PN) - run by Marika Freschi

• Hut Grassi (BG) - run by Anna Bortoletto

LaMunt had the pleasure of accompanying its leaders, Elena Bergamini and Francesca Debertol, who, in their Sasso Bianco and Contrin huts respectively, allowed us to get excited by letting us come into contact with the lives of mountain hut keepers.

Giorgia’s creative process evolved alongside these six women, who became true co-authors of the documentary.” This narrative journey powerfully reveals how subtle, and sometimes fragile, the balance between human beings and nature is. The protagonists of “Straordinarie” strive every day not only to respect this balance, but also to convey to mountain visitors the value of a conscious, respectful and loving approach to the environment.

“Extraordinary” are these six women. “Extraordinary” is Giorgia. “Extraordinary” are the mountains that surround them. And “extraordinary” is this documentary, which reminds us that within each of us lies a unique strength — waiting to emerge, to be seen, and to inspire.