André Focquet

The film of the Belgian Alpine Club's expedition to Greenland ended tragically with the death of four of its members. This human and technical feat results in an authentic testimony, a sobriety far from the heroic lyricism of the few films of the genre at the time. And although the ascent of the last summit ended in a tragic way with the disappearance of four climbers, Jean Harlez was conquered by the beauty of the Great North and its inhabitants, to the point of returning there three times.

With the help of testimonies, extracts from historical films and superb new shots shot on the spot, Jérôme Harlez brings to life the dramatic adventure of the Belgian expedition to Greenland in 1961. The CAB commissioned filmmaker Jean Harlez to make the film for the expedition. 10 virgin peaks will be climbed during this first period of good weather, but on July 6 the bad weather sets in for a week. 4 climbers attacked the northwestern ridge. Halfway through the course, they veered into the north face. The snow being too bad, they probably decided to go back down in their tracks. It was at this moment that a wind plate broke off under their feet, taking them to a deadly 950-metre fall on the north face, and the overwhelmed survivors stopped the search and exhausted with fatigue, left Greenland and returned home.