Why this Girondine will soon be playing with a documentary that does not leave insensitive

After writing and speech, place in the image. Author and podcasteer, the former Habor of Aillas (Gironde) Victoria Guillomon launched, in September 2023, in a dizzying challenge with Johan Reboul: reach India without taking the plane. A partially made challenge. “I had already visited India at my 18th birthday. And I had the promise to go back. My ecological commitment has taken up a lot of space in my life, and I couldn’t see myself going back by plane. »»

Direction le Grand Rex

In a documentary entitled “Shimla, a fugue of modern times”, the two environmental activists – who knew each other very little before departure – come back to this journey, thought above all as a way to awaken consciences to the challenges of water in the world.

This journey will be visible in the cinema from May 28. Two days before the official release in theaters, Victoria and Johan will even have the honor of projecting the film in preview at the legendary Grand Rex of Paris, emblematic complex of French cinema.

“It’s completely crazy! Lance Victoria, who still has trouble achieving. first rather inclined to offer them a large room, The management of the Grand Rex finally accepted their request.

We had to learn everything. What is beautiful in this documentary is that we do not hide it.

In all, they are no less than 19 pays that modern times adventurers have crossed over several weeks.

From the German neighbor to the lands of northern India, passing through the mangroves of Bengal or Egypt and its millennial monuments, they walked, always guided by the desire to learn from the other. “Going to meet the inhabitants, go beyond our fears … There were a lot of values ​​that I wanted to transmit,” said the farmer’s daughter.

They had to learn everything

The format chosen, that of the documentary, is no coincidence. “The documentary or the film, more generally – it was a way of touching people that I do not necessarily touch with my books or my podcast. It was a new lever to awaken consciences. »»

And a way to highlight Intergenerational and universal values which are dear to him. No matter if none of the two protagonists knew how to handle a camera before departure. “We had to learn everything. What is beautiful in this documentary is that we do not hide it. The evolution of their relationship to the camera, throughout this condensed 1 h 18, is also palpable.

More positivity

At the heart of this documentary: A major issue For today and for tomorrow: the question of access to water. Or rather: the way of acting concretely to correct these inequalities. “During the trip, we realized that it is not so much the solutions that we wanted to highlight, but the more the way in which we are talking about these solutions. »»

An observation that the lover of words wishes to see applied to the whole of ecological discourse. “What is missing in ecology today is a way of speaking with much more positivity, to embark around this cause. It is more the form than the substance of the message that matters today. »»

This documentary is not lacking. In these uncertain times, Victoria Guillomon makes this film a new form of hope.

“What is beautiful is that in each country, we felt welcomed with great kindness. Me, it gave me hope in humanity. We realize that we are one. There is no border when we talk about love, solidarity, humanity. A real ode to life, which echoes the journey of Victoria Guillomon.

meaning crisis

Very quickly aware of the climatic issues (her father is a farmer), the young woman was also faced with a crisis of meaning “when the existential questions of a life” began to ask herself for her.

“I started to ask myself philosophical questions such as what makes a happy life, what is basically pleased, what could flourish me?” »»

Of these existential questions quickly led to ecological issues. “For me ecology, it is above all a philosophy of life, an art of living and a presence in the world. »»

I really trust the ability of this film to do good

Through this course and this film, she hopes to participate in Our reconnection to others. “We have never been so connected to social networks, and yet also disconnected from each other. This trip also comforted me with the idea that we are all different, and that it is with these differences that we make a company. »»

Of the first encouraging feedback

It would be, for the co-director, a great victory. “The first feedback on the documentary are incredible. I really trust the ability of this film to do good. We want people to leave the room with a smile on his lips, the desire to speak with their neighbors, the desire to realize their dreams. We want it to be a balm in the heart. »»

And perhaps the first in a long series: “There will be other trips, that’s for sure. Before, I said “Shimla, it’s the adventure of my life”. Now I tell myself that Shimla is one of the adventures of my life. »»

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