Claude Dendaletchel

The word Pyreneism was invented by the writer Henri Beraldi at the end of the 19th century. Its definition did not come down to a simple practice of mountaineering in the Pyrenees. To be recognized as a Pyrenean, it was necessary to “ascend, write and feel”. An approach to the mountains, according to him, necessarily accompanied by an artistic or intellectual activity. This documentary looks back at the Pyrenees who have left their mark on history, before interviewing contemporary mountain dwellers who, through their mountain practice, consider themselves, or not, Pyreneanists. What prompted Beraldi to coin this term? Does it result from a Pyrenean complex facing the Alps? Chauvinism or a demand for identity? And today, does this word still have meaning? Beyond the reflection on the subject, this film is a wonderful tribute to the massif.

Lokarri, which means in the tongue of the Basque peoples "the bond," is a story about what ties people to the land of their birth. Imanol is a 20-year-old jai alai player who is sick of the provincial town in which he has grown up, somewhere in France's Basque country. While he dreams of winning a lucrative contract with a professional jai alai team in the United States, he parties around town slowly wrecking his health and his reputation as a reliable player. When Imanol's life seems at its darkest moment, he meets two people who will change his outlook on the world. One of these is Ximista, a legendary jai alai player who went to play in the United States only to return a broken man. The other is Viviane, a Parisian sociology student who falls in love with Imanol and helps him to see the importance of his Basque heritage.