Chalet Girl is the story of 19 year old skater Kim, who decides to do a season with no snow experience, who manages to 'teach herself' to ride when she finds some old kit, and win contests.... Ok, so that worked for Jenny over ten years ago when competition was next to nil and she'd been snowboarding loads before her first season, but it's mega unrealistic, film fantasy now.
A rose tinted view of the chalet girl experience (the job is pretty much slave labour for half the UK minimum wage: I was one and it was awful), the film does touch on the real issue of class discrimination within resort - still very prevalent in chalet culture.
But a plotline about a 19-year-old 'overcoming the odds' to 'claim the man' is a bit sickening, as you know Chalet Girl will be worshipped by impressionable pre teens - who shouldn't feel that they need a fella to be empowered.
There is some pretty good action though - thanks to Roxy's ballsy rider Aimee Fuller filming the snowboarding and stylish Lois Pendlebury on skating.The filmmakers also worked closely with the British arm of Roxy for the film too - filming at the Roxy Jam Europe and Brits. Legends of the UK scene, like MC Christian Stevenson, and Soulsports owner / Jenny Jones' manager Stu Brass, for guidance.
Love it or loathe it, if you take Chalet Girl as a simple feel-good, family cheese fest, anyone who's done a season - as overworked/underpaid chalet staff, nocturnal bar staff, driver or lucky-sod layabout - will empathise with and enjoy.
In cinemas February 18, check out the trailer below, and head to chaletgirl-movie.com and facebook.com/ChaletGirl for more info and behind the scenes clips.
