Sinners

I can't say enough about this film. It is in so many ways the opposite of what passes for a "ski film" these days. It doesn't depend on the holy s**t factor to impress, instead it inspires with footage and stories of soul skiers. This film captures better than any other I have seen, what ski culture is really about. It is more human than I ever realized a ski film could be.

Bill Heath has an extensive film resume, and brings all the production and photography talent that he has honed in the professional business for many years to Sinners.

If you have a beating heart, you will enjoy this film. If you ski, you will wish to be out there with your companions the moment the movie is done. If you don't ski, you're going to want to learn.

This film is really amazing. Being a student filmmaker and outdoor enthusiast this film really hit the spot. I've seen many ski films but this one definitely takes the cake. Instead of concentrating on huge cliff drops and urban rails this film sets out to show us the joy of deep powder skiing. Its not just shots its an artwork. Instead of a hard rock or rap soundtrack it consists of very chill acoustic numbers by artists such as Josh Ritter. Also the film is only about 20 minutes long which helps the viewer not lose interest. Even if it was longer the film is so beautiful that it would not be boring. In most ski movies there are a bunch of super pros hucking huge jumps and always landing them. In Sinners it gives you more the feeling of just a bunch of guys out to have a fun day of skiing. They jump, they crash, sometimes they land it, sometimes they don't. Its easier to relate to the skiers and boarders because of this. Overall its quite enjoyable and should be viewed by any skier or snowboard and probably just by any filmmaker.

Long time Warren Miller cameraman and Canadian film maker Bill Heath has crafted a work of art with his own tribute to skiing at his local ski hill, Whitewater in beautiful Nelson, BC. The skiers and boarders featured are mostly everyday people (his own kids are featured as 'young sinners') enjoying what they might do on any winter weekend. Where most modern ski flicks are endless series of mega jumps and the latest tricks, or heliskiing in exotic places with famous name athletes, 'Sinners' is more about real people having a really good time. Where the majority of ski films have soundtracks that are geared for the youthful followers of the genre, 'Sinners' soundtrack is soulful and engaging. There are numerous shots that make us remember why we love being in the mountains in wintertime so much. I've seen this movie more than maybe any other, but never grow tired of it.

I first saw Sinners as the coup de grace film at the Banff Mountain film festival years ago, and when it was over, I was very quietly crying. Have you ever had one of those dreams that are so beautiful you hate to wake up? Sinners, for me, was that kind of experience. I didn't want to leave the theater, I didn't want to go back to my life outside, I only wanted to see the snow falling blue again and again. I fell in love with the tall narrow evergreens of the north that night. I've never seen pines the same since. I've seen other films and documentaries about people skiing, but this is the only one I've ever seen about how it feels. These people ski for the same reason amazing singers sing and poets write and artists paint- they can't not. The gods have given them no other choice.