TRAILER: ‘Mission Mt. Mangart’ tells the story of war heroes who pioneered racing

The Colorado Symphony is set to present the world premiere of the documentary film, “Mission Mt. Mangart,” on Nov. 11, 2021. The documentary was written, directed, edited, and produced by Chris Anthony, a professional skier and now-filmmaker who skied for the cameras of Warren Miller Entertainment for years. In “Mission Mt. Mangart,” Anthony explores the untold stories of the 10th Mountain Division, a light infantry that was trained for battle in the mountains before and during World War II, through narration and interviews with soldiers. 

A very large portion of the post WW2 North American ski industry growth was energized by the return of the men and women of the 10th Mountain Division from war. Some of the most talented skiers and mountaineers of the time joined the experimental light infantry unit during the war when they heard a ski troop was being formed. They would eventually be patched the 10th Mountain Division before they were sent to Italy and join the fight.

A story that was overlooked in detail over the years — but is so defining of the 10th Mountain Division character — was a divisional ski race in 1945 held on gear they had captured from the Germans on the Italian–Yugoslavian border. What type of characters put on a ski race during wartime? Very motivated ski racers that became soldiers during the war.

The race was intended to “determine once and for all, who was the fastest skier in the division. Of the 76 [competitors] that started, 25 made it to the finish line, one would be crowned as champion,” said WW2 10th Mountain Division Vet Bruce Campbell, who narrated the trailer. “But this small moment in time, was just that, a moment. But it was a catalyst to a much greater story, one made of thousands of heroes, that took place when the world was at war.” 

“Mission Mt. Mangart” brings to the forefront a few lesser-known stories that deserve huge recognition, including the women of the 10th Mountain Division, most notably Deborah Bankart whose role in the film is narrated by none other than Mikaela Shiffrin.

Through the film, Anthony takes the audience back to 1939 and follows the soldiers’ story up until June 3, 1945 — and then, with help from the current Slovenian Mountain troops, recreates the ski race on the exact same slope with exact same gear the 10th used in 1945.

A number of the music scores in the documentary are original. Anthony has teamed up with the Colorado Symphony to host the World Premiere of the “Mission Mt. Mangart” on this Veteran’s Day Nov. 11 at Denver’s Boettcher Concert Hall.  The Symphony will perform a number of scores from the film.  Another scheduled premiere will be on Dec. 1 at the Vilar Center in Beaver Creek.

For more information, visit coloradosymphony.org.