Eline Le Menestrel

When Katherine Choong suggested to her friend Éline Le Menestrel that they tackle the Zahir, a classic route in the Swiss Alps and a demanding gem of the Wendenstöcke, Éline agreed... on one condition: that they only use sustainable transport to get to the foot of the wall. As the days passed suspended on the rock, they realized the scale of the challenge: intense commitment, tiny holds, accumulated fatigue from cycling... every movement became a challenge. Between motivation and euphoria, perseverance and doubt, would Katherine and Éline manage to reach their Zahir, that summit where audacity and wild beauty come together?

With the proliferation of private climbing gyms and the sport's inclusion in the Olympic Games, climbing, long a counter-cultural movement, is undergoing a profound transformation and facing a major paradox. On the one hand, private gyms are enjoying increasing popularity, while on the other, natural climbing sites are under serious threat. What vertical legacy will we leave to future generations? Is outdoor climbing destined to disappear? What will the future hold for climbing? Led by Cédric Lachat, a multi-award-winning Swiss climber, the film provides an international overview of this counter-culture, which has recently become a social phenomenon.