The ski emperor turns 70: ORF celebrates Franz Klemm

2023-11-26 07:00:43

From November 27th with “Chasing the Line”, “Klammer gegen Russi”, new portrait “Franz Klemm – The Ski Emperor” and legend races live

Vienna (OTS) – The ORF is celebrating Franz Klemm’s 70th birthday (on December 3rd) with two films, a new documentary by Michael Kögler, who portrays Klemm once again after 30 years, and a prominent, live-broadcast legend race in honor of the anniversary – from November 27th on ORF 1.

„Chasing the Line“
Monday, November 27th, 8:15 p.m., ORF 1

The streets of Innsbruck are empty, the shops are closed, the whole of Austria sits spellbound in front of the television and holds its breath. Because there was only one favorite in the downhill skiing at the 1976 Winter Olympics: the 22-year-old Carinthian mountain farmer Franz Klemm. The pressure of expectations of the entire nation rests on his shoulders, the competition is fierce and the weather conditions do the rest. But then the unthinkable happens and Franz Klemm wins Olympic gold for Austria! In the biopic “Klammer – Chasing the Line”, Franz Klemm, alias newcomer Julian Waldner, revisits the breathtaking, internationally celebrated downhill skiing at the Olympic Winter Games in Innsbruck. Valerie Huber immerses herself in the role of Eva, the love of his life. Robert Reinagl, Wiltrud Schreiner, Fabian Schiffkorn, Harry Lampl, Noah L. Perktold, Tobias Resch, Benedikt Kalcher, Fabian Kiener and Raphael Tschudi also appeared in front of the camera in other roles in this production, which was co-financed by ORF as part of the film/television agreement . The film was directed by Andreas Schmied, who was also responsible for the script together with Elisabeth Schmied.

“Bracket against Russi – The race of her life”
Monday, November 27th, 10:10 p.m., ORF 1

The documentary “Klammer versus Russi – The Race of a Lifetime,” directed by Michael Bühler, focuses on the legendary sporting duel between top athletes Franz Klemm and Bernhard Russi at the 1976 Olympic Games in Innsbruck. There, two excellent skiers, two extraordinary people and determined rivals as well as two competing nations face each other. The sporting competition in the downhill run, the days and events beforehand, the hour X of the highly dramatic race as well as the close decision and redemption at the end provide the natural dramaturgy of the film. The documentary shows that, in addition to the Austrian-Swiss giant duel, the Olympic downhill is also a story about respect and ambition, friendship and competition, high-performance sport and humanity. Because there on the Patscherkofel, in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the Olympics, the two rivals Franz Klemm and Bernhard Russi laid the foundation for a lifelong friendship.

“Franz Bracket – The ski emperor turns 70”
Sunday, December 3rd, 9:15 p.m., ORF 1

ORF chief director Michael Kögler met the emperor again 30 years after his multi-award-winning “Franz Bracket Story” (including a win at the sports film festival in Sicily). In addition to looking back at the great achievements of the most successful downhill skier in alpine skiing history with never-before-broadcast material from the ORF archive, Franz Klemm and his Kögler family provide very private insights into their life in their home Mooswald. The audience also experiences Franz Klemm as a passionate grandfather who ponders life with his grandchildren.

“Legend Race”
Thursday, December 7th, 11:10 a.m., ORF 1

In Bad Kleinkirchheim (St. Oswald) there will be a live showdown between the international (skiing) legends in a giant slalom. However, it is not the fastest time that wins. Franz Klemm starts first and sets the recommended time. It is important for all starters to get as close to the time of the emperor as possible. Participants include Armin Assinger, Michaela Dorfmeister, Stefan Eberharter, FIS President Johan Eliasch, Renate Götschl, Felix Gottwald, Werner Grissmann, Klaus Heidegger, Michael Konsel, Ivica Kostelic, Matthias Mayer, Thomas Morgenstern, Annemarie Moser-Pröll, Patrick Ortlieb , Bernhard Russi, ÖSV President Roswitha Stadlober, Jimmy Steiner, Leonhard Stock, Fritz Strobl, Gustav Thöni, David Zwilling, Günther Mader and Markus Wasmeier.