TRAILER: Austrian legend Franz Klammer at the center of upcoming docudrama

Photo courtesy of EPO/Samsara/Christoph Thanhoffer

Director Andreas Schmied and co-screenwriter Elisabeth Schmied have created “Chasing the Line,” a romantic and action-filled docudrama about Franz Klammer’s legendary downhill victory at the 1976 Winter Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria.

As first reported in Variety, the film chronicles the lead-up to Klammer’s infamous downhill run with the 22-year-old arriving at the Innsbruck Games hot on the heels of consecutive downhill wins in Wengen, Morzine, and Kitzbuhel.  As the race’s frontrunner, Klammer battles with the challenges of his celebrity status, pressure from race sponsors, and the hopes of a nation. But on that fifth day of February, Klammer pushed out of the gate clad in the iconic yellow suit and red helmet and skied “at the edge of disaster” to claim Olympic downhill gold and his place in history as one of skiing’s most successful athletes ever.

Movie producers were intent on creating an intensive and immersive experience that allows viewers to physically feel the pressure 22-year-old Klammer was under as the overwhelming favorite to win gold in the downhill.  Viewers will live through the thrill of Klammer’s race as he took incredible risks on the perilous course to barely edge out Swiss rival Bernhard Russi for the Olympic gold. 

Picture Tree International, the international sales agent, has promised a movie with a 1970s feel created by modern cinematography that benefited from 67-year-old Klammer’s input and advice. Viewers are taken back to an era where stringent safety measures and carefully controlled media images were still in the distant future. Klammer and his girlfriend (later wife) Eva are played by newcomer Julian Waldner as Klammer, and Viennese actor Valerie Huber (Eva), who in addition to her acting chops lists skiing and ski instructing as one of her special skills.

Shooting for “Chasing the Line” ended in April of 2021 and is in post-production with an anticipated Austrian release date in the late fall of 2021.