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This documentary is a reconstruction, based on archive footage, testimonies, and filmed reconstructions, of the Vincendon / Henry tragedy. December 1956: Jean Vincendon and François Henry, two young mountaineers, aspire to join the High Mountain Group. Lacking experience, they set out to climb Mont Blanc via the Brenva spur in the middle of winter. The weather conditions deteriorated, and they decided to give up before meeting Walter Bonatti and Sylvano Gheser. They then decided to continue the climb and set off in two different roped parties. Bonatti decided to take refuge at the Vallot refuge higher up, rather than descend. The two young mountaineers, overcome by the poor weather conditions and fatigue, remained stuck for several days at 4,000 meters. What followed was a completely disorganized rescue operation that became, for more than ten days, a spectacle for all of France and a national tragedy.
Directed by Denis Ducroz
Jean Vincendon
Self (archive footage)
François Henry
Self (archive footage)
Claude Dufourmantelle
Self
Lionel Terray
Self (archive footage)
Walter Bonatti
Self (archive footage)
Pierre Couttet
Self
Gilbert Chappaz
Self
Jacques Petetin
Self
Jean Brissaud
Self
Honoré Bonnet
Self
Jean Minster
Self
Louis Piraly
Self (archive footage)
Touching the Void
2003
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