The Gate of Heaven (1980)

  • NR
  • 01/01/1980 (FR)
  • Documentary
  • 52m

Overview

A legendary film in the history of rock climbing in the Verdon Gorges, shot in 16mm between the autumn of 1978 and the spring of 1979 by Henri Agresti, a high mountain guide. For the first time, acrobatic shots were taken on the walls of the Verdon. We rediscover a whole generation of pioneers on routes like Dingomaniaque, Triomphe d'Eros, Péril rouge, Luna Bong, Pichenibule or Necronomicon, routes which, like Dingomanique or Triomphe d'Eros, had just been opened. We witnessed a major turning point in the style and possibilities of rock climbing at the end of the 1970s: anchors sealed by drilling used as belaying and no longer as aids, new equipment: climbing shoes and chalk, harnesses and figure eights. Henri Agresti's unfinished and silent film, lasting around fifty minutes, was presented in the form of a nine-minute fragment at the Trento Film Festival in 1981.

Henri Agresti

Director, Writer

Cast

Henri Agresti's headshot

Henri Agresti

Self
Isabelle Agresti's headshot

Isabelle Agresti

Self
Christian Guyomar's headshot

Christian Guyomar

Self
Bernard Gorgeon's headshot

Bernard Gorgeon

Self
Jean-Claude Droyer's headshot

Jean-Claude Droyer

Self
Stéphane Troussier's headshot

Stéphane Troussier

Self
Jean-Marc Troussier's headshot

Jean-Marc Troussier

Self
Roger Verdegen's headshot

Roger Verdegen

Self

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