In French. Lots of great footage. The prehistory is oversimplified and incomplete, and the story of early Alpine skiing is presented out of order, implying that military skiing preceded civilian skiing. The reverse is true. Civilians began skiing for fun in the Alps, in significant numbers, around 1889-90, after the publication of Nansen's book On Skis Across Greenland. The French, Swiss and Italian mountain troops adopted skis more than a decade later. The film also claims that Hannes Schneider was responsible for locking the heel down, when that distinction belongs to Walter Amstutz and Guido Reuge. It credits Emile Allais with inventing parallel skiing; in reality, like everyone else, he learned it from Toni Seelos. Nice to see footage of Marie Marvingt, but the film credits her only with fashion innovation, ignoring her role in early ski racing and jumping for women, and the fact that she established the first ski school in France. The entire work is told from a narrow Franco-Swiss perspective, and it skips over a lot of important developments. Nonetheless this is a handsome, well-made 52-minute film and fun to watch. Just don't believe everything you hear. --Seth Masia