“Profession: Guide de Montagne – Sur le fil du Rasoir”

Alpine Documentation (), Pierre-Antoine Hiroz, Aymon Benoit (Schweiz/Switzerland) 26 min

They seek neither money, nor glory, nor fame. They are prepared to commit body and soul to achieving their dream of becoming a mountain guide. A hard life – often thankless, always demanding. Around sixty applicants take part in the adventure. The statistics are pitiless: from the outset they are perfectly aware that only half of them will complete the course. Five expeditions, five chances to analyse this first year of selection, each with its successes and failures. For the first time, we go behind the scenes of this fascinating career. In the footsteps of Didier, Cyril, Yann and – lost in this predominantly male world – two women, Isabelle and Séverine. On the razor’s edge: We are ten days from final cut. A succession of high-altitude treks for the applicants who are under daily pressure from the experts. Above 4,000 metres, mistakes are not forgiven. Doubt begins to set in.