Thoughts on the new ski film "People Like Us"

“People like us” is a short ski culture movie, by Ryan Collins and Nat Segal. The movie is set in Revelstoke and highlights the dichotomy between the cultures present in a large number of small mountain towns in North America. The opening sequence shares the views of a small mountain town seldom seen in other ski movies, those of day-to-day life in a mostly blue-collar, resource-based economy town, contrasting with the supposed more free and open culture associated with skiing and snowboarding. These shots will be familiar to many of us who live and work in these towns across North America, but specifically in British Columbia. The scenery is breathtaking, as to be expected in a movie based in Revelstoke. The simple joy of sliding on snow with friends shines through in the ski sections.

In sharing his experiences and those of other members of the community he has discovered within his local area, Ryan gives a voice to what it means to be uncomfortable and unseen in this environment. This film shares the stories of people whose sexuality and/or gender fluidity see them on the outskirts of traditional “ski culture”. These stories are filmed with empathy and understanding, leading to an openness on the part of the people, and a vulnerability regarding sexuality that is rarely seen on screen, especially in this genre of movie. The people searching for people like them run the gamut of sexuality and gender, as well as experiences within the ski industry. Through it all one can hear the call for more inclusivity and diversity within the communities that grow up around the sports we all enjoy.

The film raises questions about the sameness of ski and snowboard culture, the ability to stay a free-spirited and open community, and the role of misogyny in ski competition.

"People Like Us" is a thought-provoking movie that finishes with a celebration of an incredibly positive community that finds itself marginalized, strangely enough by a culture that prides itself on being outside the norm.

You can find the trailer for "People Like Us" below and see what you think: