Synopsis

Like all good Genevans, Michel Piola discovered rock climbing at the Salève, a huge cliff outside Geneva that has been a training ground for a number of leading mountaineers. After 30 years of route-setting, he is without doubt one of the great new routers and has left a lasting impression on the world of climbing. The choice and style of his lines has made his routes extremely popular among large numbers of climbers. This film is both a biography of Michel Piola and a chance to see him at work equipping routes on crags and in the mountains. The film journeys to Patagonia, Greenland and Pakistan, exploring his life and motivation, as well as following him on current route-setting projects in the Alps and Turkey. Jury’s Special Mention MHFF Czech Republic 2015. Public Choice Explos Film Festival France 2015. Official Selections: International Mountain Film Festival Domzale 2015, Dutch Mountain Film Festival 2015, Bilbao Mendi Film Festival 2014, Trento Film Festival.