Synopsis (deutsch)
In einer kleinen Garage im Berner Vorort Bümpliz arbeiten eine handvoll Freunde an ihren Traum-Motorrädern. Sie haben sich innerhalb der Szene einen Namen für ihre kompromisslosen Kreationen gemacht.
Der Film geht mit Danny, seines Zeichens Kopf des Garagen-Kollektivs „Hardnine Choppers“, zurück ins Jahr 2001 als ein fürchterlicher Unfall seine aufstrebende Motocross-Karriere zerstörte. Am Unfallort in Frankreich rollt er die Geschichte nochmals auf, und sucht nach Inspiration für ein neues Projekt.
Der junge Filmemacher Jan Mühlethaler begleitet ihn fortan bei der Planung, Konstruktion und ersten Testfahrten seiner neusten Kreation «D'MX», welche eine Harley Davidson aus den 40er Jahren und den Look der BMX-Räder aus den 70er verschmelzt.
Dannys Ziel mit diesem einzig- und neuartigen Motorrad ist es, an die weltbekannte Mooneyes-Show in Yokohama eingeladen zu werden. Die jährliche Ausstellung in Japan gilt in der Szene als bedeutenste Messe, auch deshalb weil nur ausgesuchte und eingeladene Fahrzeuge gezeigt werden. Vor ihm ist es keinem europäischen Konstrukteur gelungen, an die Show eingeladen zu werden.
Das Dokumentarfilmprojekt setzt sich zum Ziel einen differenzierten Einblick auf den vielschichtigen Charakter des Protagonisten zu ermöglichen
Freunde, Familie und ausgesuchte Grössen aus der Szene kommen zu Wort um die Beweggründe und Motivation in einem differenzierten Licht zu erkennen.
Es ist die Geschichte eines Traums, und des erschwerlichen Weges zu seiner Erfüllung. Oft verbringen Danny und seine Freunde mehrere Wochen an der Konstruktion eines einzelnen Benzintanks. Der Film ist eine Hommage an die Leidenschaft, und die damit verbundene Aufopferung.
Das Ende des Film bildet schlussendlich die Reise an die Mooneyes Show in Japan (Dezember 2009), wo Danny sein Motorrad einer begeisterten Menge von 15'000 Zuschauern vorführen wird.
Jan Mühlethaler wurde mit seinem ersten Dokumentarfilm Zeuge wie der Protagonist von einem jungen Talent zu einer internationalen Grösse in der Szene heranwuchs.
Synopsis (english)
"Hardnine the Movie" is a documentary portraying Danny Schneider, and his Choppers-Brothers, called "The Niners".
Danny made himself a name for his fresh and uncompromising creations all over the world and is "at the cutting edge of European Customizing"*.
The film goes back in time when the protagonist was a Motocross and Freestyle Motocross youngstar, untill in 2001 a horrible crash destroyed his career.
After 6 month of hospitalisation he decided to start it all over again; this comeback gives birth to the Hardnine Chopper Saga.
In early 2009 film-director Jan Muehlethaler attends Danny on a journey back to the Moto-X course in France - for the first time in 8 years, the protagonist
returns to the place of accident. At the notorious course Danny searches for inspiration for a further project. His goal is to enter the world famous Yokohama MOONEYES Show in Japan, with something the world has never seen yet.
The result is a masterpiece. A Harley-Davidson Flathead from the 40s combined with a 70s BMX look which will later become the worlds most covered Chopper Bike in 2009!**
Finally, all the struggle, hard work and committment were worth it: by the end of the year 2009, 15'000 people were able to see Danny attending the japanese Mooneyes Show as a special guest (as the 1th European Bike-Builder). What had started as a crazy idea in a tiny swiss garage became at the end an amzing reality!
.
Beside documenting the Bike creation work in the garage, the movie presents Trips to Bike-Shows all over Europe, giving some insights to "The Niners" principal activities and lets friends and family-memebers talk.
Well-known names from the Custom world like Laurent Bagnars (Photographer), Cole Foster (Salinas Boys), Kutty (Sinners), Shige Suganuma (Mooneyes-Owner) and others comment the rise of Danny and his Crew.
The Film-Director: Jan Muehlethaler is from a new breed of directors; his backgrounds are Skateboard videos. He shot nominated music videos and eye-catching commercials.
His first full-length movie titled «Sub Current» documenting the story of the underground Record Label Subverisv just hit Cinemas recently.
For «Hardnine The Movie» he decided to shoot the entire movie with 35mm cinema-lenses, to give the story the vintage and rough look that goes hand in hand with the groundbraking action.
* from "Padova Bike Expo" press-release
** Magazine-Coverage Worldwide
Crew:
Director: Jan Muehlethaler
Production: roja-media Productions
Camera: Jan Muehlethaler
Assistant: Sarah Schlosser
Montage: Jan Muehlethaler
Sound: Fabian Gutscher
Promotion: Tanya Gavrancic, Siren Promo
Soundtrack: The Monofones, Unhold, Tight Finks, Nancy Glowbus, The Fuckadies, Overdrive Amp Explosion & The Jakets (Subversiv Records) & Filewile (Mouthwatering Records)
Format:
Length: 85min (aprox.)
Format: 16:9 / colour / (Mini 35mm) HDV
Language: swissgerman (plus native dialogues with subtitles) / english (plus native dialogues with subtitles)
Locations: Berne (Switzerland), Valence (France), Geneva (Switzerland), Jesola (Italy), Wieze (Belgium), Padova (Italy), Yokohama (Japan)
Publications: March 2011
Finally, all the struggle, hard work and committment were worth it: by the end of the year 2009, 15'000 people were able to see Danny attending the japanese Mooneyes Show as a special guest (as the 1th European Bike-Builder). What had started as a crazy idea in a tiny swiss garage became at the end an amzing reality! .
Beside documenting the Bike creation work in the garage, the movie presents Trips to Bike-Shows all over Europe, giving some insights to "The Niners" principal activities and lets friends and family-memebers talk.
Well-known names from the Custom world like Laurent Bagnars (Photographer), Cole Foster (Salinas Boys), Kutty (Sinners), Shige Suganuma (Mooneyes-Owner) and others comment the rise of Danny and his Crew.
The Film-Director: Jan Muehlethaler is from a new breed of directors; his backgrounds are Skateboard videos. He shot nominated music videos and eye-catching commercials. His first full-length movie titled «Sub Current» documenting the story of the underground Record Label Subverisv just hit Cinemas recently. For «Hardnine The Movie» he decided to shoot the entire movie with 35mm cinema-lenses, to give the story the vintage and rough look that goes hand in hand with the groundbraking action.