Catalan Film Balandrau Tops Andorra Box Office

The Catalan-language film *Balandrau. Vent salvatge*, which recounts a tragic mountaineering incident near the Balandrau peak in Ripollès around the turn of 2000 to 2001, has topped the box office at Andorra's Cinemes Illa Carlemany.

Over its opening weekend, the film sold approximately 320 tickets, a strong performance for the Principality's cinema scene. It remained the most-watched title on Monday, outpacing other new releases. Sources at the venue described the success as unusual for a fully Catalan-produced and Catalan-language feature, marking one of the first times such a film has led local charts.

Directed as an extension of a 2021 documentary marking the tragedy's 20th anniversary, the movie draws from the book *3 nits de torb i 1 Cap d'Any* by meteorologist Jordi Cruz. It depicts the loss of seven hikers from two separate groups amid severe weather. Only one survivor, Josep Maria Vilà, was rescued alive; the other six bodies were recovered from under layers of snow, with the final victim—a woman—found over two months later during the thaw.

Vilà contributed directly to the production, lending authenticity through his firsthand account and collaboration with the scriptwriters. Andorran police and firefighters joined the search efforts in those final days of 2000 and early 2001, highlighting the event's cross-border impact, which drew widespread media attention at the time.

The film serves as both a dramatic retelling and a cautionary tale about mountain risks. Its popularity in Andorra has prompted scheduling changes: from Wednesday, it moves to a larger screen for better viewing, and starting this Friday, sessions expand from two daily (afternoon and evening) to three (afternoon, early evening, and night). As a Catalan-language release, it qualifies for the reduced 4-euro ticket price. The producers had set two showings per day as the minimum to keep it in rotation.