BigList
Login / Sign up
The Castaways Of Mont Blanc (2002)

The Castaways Of Mont Blanc (2002)

Drama History Documentary
Release Date: 2002, January 1
Directors: Denis Ducroz
Countries: France
Production: France 3, MFP, France 5
Cast: Jean-Yves Berteloot, Walter Bonatti, Lionel Terray, Jean Vincendon, François Henry, Claude Dufourmantelle, Pierre Couttet, Gilbert Chappaz, Jacques Petetin, Jean Brissaud, Honoré Bonnet, Jean Minster

Overview:

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.

Keywords:

docufiction mountaineering alpinism chamonix mountain documentary mont-blanc mountains range mountain accident vincendon / henry mountain drama