Filmmaker Alice Rosano’s short film, Another Way, seemingly brings together apples and oranges by pairing the sport of highlining with the rich culture and landscape of Egypt.
Highlining is tightrope walking’s insane cousin — a narrow strip of webbing stretched between two rock formations at extreme heights, with no net, just a leash tethering the walker to the line. In Another Way, a small team of athletes — Giuseppe Di Bella, Davide Spaccasassi, and Timo Elony (among others) — travels to Egypt’s Sinai desert to be the first to rig lines for the sport. Needless to say, most Egyptians don’t even know highlining exists (I sure didn’t).
But before anyone steps on a line, there’s paperwork. Permits and government bureaucracy prove a bigger obstacle than any cliff face. The rock itself doesn’t cooperate either — it’s inconsistent and fragile, and the anchor holes drilled into it have to hold. The heat and wind conditions are harsh, elevating the danger factor. The team admits the project is so ambitious it may never be completed, and they’re doing it anyway — driven by sheer will and a love of the Egyptian landscape and its people. Though Egypt itself has a substantial tourism industry, the highlining community is small, consisting of a few locals and outsiders who love a challenge; we see that this sport can truly bring cultures together.
“…a small team of athletes…travels to Egypt’s Sinai desert to be the first to rig lines for the sport.”
Director Alice Rosano shot Another Way over 20 days in Sinai, on a production budget of about £10,000 that she paid for herself — no sponsors, no salaries, just a crew that believed in the idea. Her aim was never to produce a highlining highlight reel. She wanted to show a side of Egypt rarely seen on screen and prove that meaningful expeditions require curiosity, collaboration with strangers, and a willingness to take risks. Rosano hopes her film changes the notion of who can partake in adventure sports like highlining.
It’s undeniable that even a country known for its barren deserts is beautiful and makes for a thrilling backdrop for adventurers of all skill levels. Every single frame of Another Way is art, from the interviews with professionals and locals to the simple hand-drawn illustrations that map out Egypt and tell stories of old.
At the same time, Another Way opens a small crack in the door, bringing cultures together. I’m not sure highlining will bring about the unity the film hopes for, but it’s nice to see the attempt being made.
"…Highlining is tightrope walking's insane cousin..."
