Castells

Triumph or defeat – and more: It is the 200 year-old Catalan tradition of Castells, of building towers made out of people. Whole families dedicate their lives to training in the art of climbing on top of each other to create giant human towers of up to 10 metres high and compete in market places throughout the region. The teamwork must be perfect – the slightest mistake could be fatal. This national sport is also a symbol of pride and strong ties to a community and an emblem of cultural independence. The film follows the members of the Colla Joves, a team at the very epicentre of the Castell movement, through a summer full of crises, twists and turns. The constant competition with their main rival Colla Vella from the same town raises high expectations. The tension reaches its peak as the local derby on the day of Saint Ursula approaches. Everything depends on the anxious five-year-old Zoraida who of all has to climb to the very top of the giant human tower. Castells is full of fascinating and beautiful images of an extravagant sport, with people balancing in the air. (DOK.fest München)