Malgorzata Szumowska Interview: Infinite Storm | Screen Rant
The new movie Infinite Storm is based on the incredible true story of Pam Bales (Naomi Watts). While climbing Mt. Washington, Pam decided to turn back in order to avoid an incoming blizzard. Making her way down, she came across a man stranded on the mountain and looked to help him get to safety before the storm hit. Malgorzata Szumowska helmed the project, bringing this tale of bravery to the big screen.
Screen Rant spoke with Szumowska about how she became involved with Infinite Storm, her reaction to Pam's story, and much more.
Screen Rant: I love this story and find it so inspiring. When did you first hear Pam's story? How did you get a hold of it?
Malgorzata Szumowska: This is a paradox because first I got the script, and then I learned that this is a real story. And then I started to read about Pam and dig about the real story, actually, after I received the script.
But I was so fascinated by this story that is 12 or 10 hours from someone's life, which completely changed the perspective of these two people. So, in very limited time, something super [happened]. I found that very interesting.
When you first were able to speak to Pam, what were the first questions that you had for her?
Malgorzata Szumowska: I asked her if the whole story is a totally real story, because you don't know! I was like, "Oh, my God." And she said, "Yes, of course, it's a real story." Because I thought it was so surprising that he escaped, that he disappeared and vanished and why. So, I asked her if each element is exactly how it was in reality, and she confirmed, of course.
Then I was more observing her in the little field videos she shared with us: how she behaved, how she's packing her backpack. So that I can give the right comments to Naomi when she's acting as her.
I was able to interview her about an hour ago, and she's very cool.
Malgorzata Szumowska: Oh, my God, I love her. She's super cool.
What's the most valuable lesson you think you learn from working on this story?
Malgorzata Szumowska: I learned that we can really pass every terrible moment in our life - including grief, including a huge loss - and there is a hope, always, at the end of the day. There is a sun, and there is a moment when you can say, "Okay, life is super brutal and is very hard. But it's also extremely beautiful." Of course, this is something we all know, but we are forgetting so often. This was the biggest lesson, which is also on the screen and in the film.
And another lesson was how we as a team - me, Naomi, our DP - have been fighting to make this film as beautiful, as strong as possible. We've been through 25 shooting days, very limited with everything, and to create the storm and create the real struggle on the screen was very demanding. But we said to each other, "We have to do it. We have to do it," and we've been like this [gestures]; a team. An amazing team.
What was the hardest thing to overcome while filming?
Malgorzata Szumowska: Storms. I can tell you it was very difficult, because we use some machines, but we had only a few of them and they'd be super noisy. Then in this super terrible noise, they have to act. I was trying to give them comments, and they couldn't hear me.
But I can tell you, after 10 minutes, everyone was so tired that I was always like, "Okay, now is the right moment to film the scene." In the moment when they'd be the most exhausted and they [wanted] a break, I was like, "No, now is the moment. Now we have to do it. Action!"
Infinite Storm is now playing in U.S. theaters.