THE GREAT ECSTASY OF THE SCULPTOR STEINER (Die Große Ekstase des Bildschnitzers Steiner) is a documentary directed by German Director Werner Herzog in 1974.
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Werner Herzog decided to direct a film about the Swiss ski-jumper (and -flyer) Walter Steiner. Steiner was a wood sculptor during the summer and ski jumper during the winter. Herzog films Walter Steiner during two main events of the ski season.
Steiner was the main attraction of the 1974 Planica jump event in Yugoslavia. 50,000 people were waiting for Steiner's jumps. The spring board had just been inaugurated and Steiner's first jump, 179 meters long, went past the security limit. The officials refused to shorten the run-up track and Steiner violently fell during his second jump. Fearing to never dare to jump again, Steiner decided then to make a last jump on the same day. Of his own free will, the Swiss ski-flyer shortened himself his run-up, jumped 166 meters and won the Planica ski show. The second skier appearing in the Planica ranking that year flied only 135 meters.
The review of this Movie prepared by Daniel Staebler
