This post is also available in:
Italiano (Italian) 
Deutsch (German)
by Various Authors
grade: 7
An elementary direction that openly refers to the documentary approach of the Lumière brothers is a salient aspect within the documentary Im Auto durch die Österreichischen Alpen. And this mise-en-scène – which on this occasion also involved the camera itself being placed on the moving vehicles from time to time – deliberately avoided any particular directorial virtuosity or authorial ambitions, with the sole aim of filming reality as it was.
A race through the Alps
A particularly noteworthy documentary, this Im Auto durch die Österreichischen Alpen. Made in 1912, the film shows us an event that is indeed prestigious, but also rarely documented on film. At least until the early 20th century. We are talking about the famous Österreichische Alpenfahrt (Austrian Alpine Car Race), which took place in the Tyrol amidst breathtaking Alpine landscapes.
It therefore happened in 1912 that Archduke Leopold Salvator, Archduke Karl Franz Joseph, Ferdinand Porsche and Count Alexander Kolowrat, founder of the famous production company Sascha-Film, which was entrusted with the task of filming this special event, also took part in this competition.
Recently re-presented to the audience by the Filmarchiv Austria on the occasion of the online retrospective Kino auf Sommerfrische, Im Auto durch die Österreichischen Alpen unfortunately did not reach us in its entirety. On the contrary, what we can watch today are only about fifty seconds of the original documentary, within which, however, the faces of the aforementioned participants are easily distinguishable.
An elementary direction that openly refers to the documentary approach of the Lumière brothers is a salient aspect within the documentary Im Auto durch die Österreichischen Alpen. And this mise-en-scène – which on this occasion also involved the camera itself being placed on the moving vehicles from time to time – deliberately avoided any particular directorial virtuosity or authorial ambitions, with the sole aim of filming reality as it was.
Car races, official events, journeys through the Austrian Alps and – why not? – also moments taken directly from everyday life were the favourite subjects of the Austrian film pioneers, in a series of short documentaries that – with the exception of very rare feature films – represented the majority within the early Austrian films. A filmography that was by far younger than European and world cinema and therefore also somewhat anachronistic at times.
Yet, the will to create was there. And this can be seen in the large number of films made in these early years of the 20th century, many of which, unfortunately, have been permanently lost or, at any rate, just like Im Auto durch die Österreichischen Alpen, have reached the present day incomplete.
And yet, even with just a few seconds’ screening of this documentary, one cannot fail to notice an undoubted directorial care and special attention to the landscape, with its imposing peaks and often steep and winding roads. All this results in a little, precious work that – also given its rarity – has acquired an ever-increasing value and fascination over the years.
Original title: Im Auto durch die Österreichischen Alpen
Directed by: Various Authors
Country/year: Austria / 1912
Running time: 1’
Genre: documentary
Screenplay: Various Authors
Cinematography: Various Authors
Produced by: Sascha Film