30. Film Festival della Lessinia
Bosco Chiesanuova (Italia)
23 August - 1 September 2024

Accompanied by the poetic musical verses by Giorgio Conte, original images and animation reconstruct the story of Jorge "Géo" Chávez, a pioneer of French aviation of Peruvian origins who, animated by the momentum of the Bélle Epoque a few years after the invention of the first airplane by the Wright brothers, accomplished the arduous and dangerous feat of flying over the Alps for the first time. With a monoplane Blériot XI, made of little more than a wooden frame, ropes, and cloth, Géo took on this majestic challenge at only 23 years of age, on September 23, 1910, taking off from Briga in Switzerland and crossing the Alps toward Milan, in a voyage at the mercy of the strong currents, sudden climatic changes, and vertiginous height. Sadly, the greatest accomplishment of his life ended tragically, a few metres from the arrival, and only 45 minutes after takeoff, but the poetic images and moving verses of the singer-songwriter hand down to posterity all of the exultation and glamour of a realised dream.

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  Fredo Valla

  Born in Sempeyre in the province of Cuneo in 1948, he is a director, documentary maker, and screenwriter. He attended Ipotesi Cinema, directed by Ermanno Olmi. He worked for RAI and Sat 2000 and collaborated with Pupi Avati and with Giorgio Diritti. With Riposino in pace (1996) he won the first prize at the IV Film Festival della Lessinia. He then directed Più in alto delle nuvole (2015), Non ne parla di questa guerra (2018) and BOGRE - La grande eresia europea (2021).