In a continent that seems endless, a man on a bicycle becomes a tiny witness to the vastness of the world. Like a Skinny Ant follows Alessandro de Bertolini on a journey across Asia that is both an adventure and a personal reflection.

Over the course of 75 days and 7,500 kilometers, Alessandro rides solo from the Altai Mountains in Mongolia to Kathmandu, Nepal, crossing the Gobi Desert, China, the Tibetan Plateau, and the Himalayas, with a passage through Everest Base Camp.

More than a physical journey, the film weaves together solidarity and science. De Bertolini physically connects two humanitarian projects—the Ger Camp in Mongolia and the Rarahil Memorial School in Nepal—while carrying scientific instruments to collect atmospheric data for the National Research Council (CNR) of Rome.

Shot independently, without a film crew or support vehicles, the visual diary captures the fragility of human presence in the face of nature and the curiosity sparked by encounters with diverse cultures, stories, and ethnic identities.

About Alessandro

Alessandro is a researcher at the Fondazione Museo storico del Trentino, where he is head of the department dedicated to territorial history studies. His work focuses on landscape as a historical source and on the major transformations that have shaped the Alpine Arc.

Alongside his academic career, he works as a traveler and documentary filmmaker. This includes a solo crossing of North America from California to Alaska, as well as several projects produced in collaboration with Montura Editing.

Film Information

Film Direction: Alessandro De Bertolini and Alfredo Croce
Original Title: Like a Skinny Ant
Production Year: 2026
Written and filmed by Alessandro de Bertolini
Edited by Alfredo Croce and Alessandro de Bertolini
Country of Origin: Italy
Running Time: 44 minutes
Production Company: Montura Editing

A production made for Montura in collaboration with Aringa Studio