Screening of “A Day in the Life of a Shepherd”

From the rocky terrain of Haut-Bréda to the thorny forests of the Vercors, over the course of a day, four shepherdesses and shepherds share their stories. All have chosen a life on the edge—between society and the wilderness—and have transitioned into this profession out of love for the mountains. But beyond the idyllic image, what meaning does each of them find in their calling?

At the initiative of the Isère Alpine Pastures Federation and a group of pastoral organizations in the Rhône-Alpes region, filmmaker Camille Walter was commissioned to film shepherds from the north to the south of the French Alps.
The mission? To create short portraits to provide information on the various training programs available for becoming a shepherd or alpine dairy herder.
Although the director was already familiar with the pastoral world, these days spent on the alpine pastures with these different shepherds and shepherdesses filled her with wonder beyond her expectations.
Moving beyond stereotypes, she engaged with women and men from diverse backgrounds who, through their distance from urban social conventions and norms, spoke with an immediate authenticity. Moved by what she observed, she filmed more than was required. She then reached an agreement with the Isère Alpine Pasture Federation to develop the footage into a feature-length film with complete artistic freedom. This documentary emerged from her encounters with Lionel, Chloé, Alexandre, and Isabelle, driven by the director’s sensitive vision.
Supported by a professional post-production team, this documentary is a self-produced film made possible thanks to the support of long-term partners.