the ascent of Kilimanjaro by David Berty broadcast on Canal +
“Together”. The title of the short film signed by Toulousain Patrick Foch perfectly sums up the philosophy of the adventure. And for good reason, Vanessa Morales, record holder of the ascent of Kilimanjaro, proposed to David Bertyformer star winger of Stade Toulousain to climb the slopes of the mountain culminating at 5,895 meters.
As a reminder, the former rugby star suffers from multiple sclerosis, which was given to him in 2002. It is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. However, David Berty accepted the challenge. The Toulouse director Patrick Fochseduced by the project of his friend Vanessa Morales, decides to film this ascent which, on paper, promised to be rich in emotions.
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Climbing Kilimanjaro
Quickly, the team is formed. A total of 15 people decide to join the adventure, guided by Vanessa Morales and David Berty. Among them, former rugby players such as Marc Liévremont, Thomas Castaignède, Laurent Tomasella and Sébastien Morizot. The participants therefore rubbed shoulders with the Tanzanian giant. “The ascent was done over 5 days, the first 4 days went well. The 5th a little less”, humorously recognizes the director Patrick Foch, who immortalized the journey.
We started from the last camp located at 4,600 meters and we had to reach 5,895 meters. We had to climb 1,200 meters. It was a nightmare for me, and also for a few others. This last day was devastating, but we held on together,” recalls Patrick Foch, interviewed by L’Opinion Indépendante.
Fortunately, the director had thought of everything. The latter had, in the past, already engraved the mountain in the company of Vanessa Moraux, and was faced with the difficulty of effort. From then on, Patrick Foch took 4 small cameras with him. Thus, during this last tested day, the various climbers were able to film the final stretch. What better to transcribe the intensity of these last meters.
Emotions pushed to their climax
Throughout the climb, new friendships were made and the harshness of the journey brought the team closer together. “At the start of the adventure, we didn’t all know each other. In the evening, we therefore took the time to sympathize and get to know each other. It was very rich in human terms. On the last day, which is really a big physical peak, We got up at midnight before leaving to climb the mountain at one o’clock in the morning. We knew that we had ten to eleven hours of hiking. We literally saw ourselves explode with fatigue. Some were carried, helped , encouraged by friends, so it makes the emotions rise crescendo”, shares the director of the short film with an open heart.
Once at the top, the 15 climbers fell into each other’s arms, torn between joy, pride, reduction and tears.
It was a collective victory. Without the friends, we would have turned around four times. There has always been someone to revive the others,” adds Patrick Foch.
During the descent, the atmosphere was more extended. It was done in 2 days and the 15 daredevils managed to acclimatize to the altitude.
At 4,000 meters, the altitude is less felt. There, we took out the rugby balls. And, there was a sort of initiation to rugby intended for Tanzanian guides and porters by thes former rugby players. Lmost had never seen a rugby ball in their lives. A single kick of the ball generated joy and a bond between all. It was a pretty magical moment.”
Through his camera, Patrick Foch was thus the witness of this beautiful epic, which will be broadcast on Canal +, this Saturday September 2 at 1:40 p.m. An appointment not to be missed.
Note that a 52-minute version is in the works, thanks to a partnership with France 3. The film should be broadcast on May 30, the date of World Multiple Sclerosis Day.