A DAY | A SHEPHERD

A FILM BY CAMILLE WALTER
A DAY | A SHEPHERD
in the French Alps
THE MOVIE
Four views, four variations on a calling
–––––––––
In the French Alps, from rocky slopes to coniferous forests, over the course of a single day, four shepherds share their stories. Each of them has chosen a life on the edge—between society and the wild—and has turned to this profession out of love for the mountains. But beyond the cliché, what meaning does each one find in their calling?

TRAILER

LIVE MY LIFE AS A SHEPHERD

–––––––––

GENESIS

MIND-OPENING ENCOUNTERS

–––––––––

At the initiative of the Fédération des Alpages de l'Isère and a group of pastoral organizations in the Rhône-Alpes region, director Camille Walter was commissioned to film shepherds from the north to the south of the French Alps.

Our mission? To create short portraits to provide information on the various training courses available to become a shepherd - mountain cowherd.

Even if the director was already familiar with the pastoral environment, these days on the mountain pastures, with the different shepherds, amazed her beyond her expectations.

She approached men and women with varied histories, whose distance from the conventions and social codes of the city gave rise to an immediate authenticity in their words. Touched by this observation, she films more than she needs to. And she concluded an agreement with the Fédération des Alpages de l'Isère to develop the images for a feature film with total artistic freedom. This documentary is the result of her encounters with Lionel, Chloé, Alexandre and Isabelle, and the director's sensitive vision.

Supported by a professional TEAM , this documentary is a self-produced film made possible thanks to the help of long-term partners.

SELECTIONS

THE JOY OF EXCHANGE

–––––––––

While many shepherds were coming down from the mountains, the film premiered

October 16, 2025 at the Festival Pastoralismes & Grands Espaces de Grenoble

where it received a warm welcome.

Le même weekend, il fait parti de la soirée évènementielle

Ciné-Berger dans le Champsaur.

In December, the documentary will be screened at a special showing at the

Autrans Mountain Film Festival.

And more selections are planned for 2026!

Abroad at the Trento Film Festival (Italy) – the oldest mountain festival –

et au Nepal Screen Film Festival.

En France, deux territoires qui tiennent à cœur de la réalisatrice accueillent le documentaire : Festival de la Randonnée de Mende et Festival du film Pastoralisme à Digne….

TESTIMONIALS

SPECTATORS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE

–––––––––

I loved it!

There's room for guarding, for gestures with the animals and for silences, for interviews, and it's balanced like that, it seems to me. I loved the words of Lionel (what an incredible conversion!), Chloé and Alexandre. The words about the relationship with animals, about getting to know each other, including the less pleasant aspects. I found a lot of humility and depth in their words. I think there's plenty to talk about with people outside pastoralism too. And what mountains... the first portrait, of Lionel with the cows, it's quite incredible the shots with these very white rocks. And then to see Sohane again at that age, on that summer pasture, it did something to me. It's very simple, but you see, I'd lost the memory of the way she talked/babbled, and you've captured that. Thank you for that.


- ISABELLE LEVÉ | Shepherdess of the film

Congratulation

I saw the film in the summer and thought it was great. A big thank you for your work to highlight the realities of our jobs as shepherds / cowherds. My hat's off to you.

- LIONEL PÉPIN | Shepherd of the film

A delightful documentary

"Moving, well filmed, with superb images and plenty of subjects covered in the exchange around pastoralism. The shepherding profession is under such pressure these days..."

"The portraits are well-paced and the attention paid to parity gives a fairly complete overview of how they live their profession. A great immersion!"

- ANCI TEAM | National Association of Mobile Cinemas

Beautiful images

It's a great project, and we're keen to find out more.

- FABIENNE BERTHAUD | Director(Un monde plus grand, Sky)

What a great documentary!

"Which exudes humanity, sensitivity and nature."

"Too bad it was a bit short! But it makes us want to know a little more about the life of a shepherd. Thank you and bravo for this documentary!"

"Thank you for this beautiful moment of escape, these sumptuous images and these very authentic testimonies."

"This film took me back to Kerguelen in the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF). There's the Ile Longue where wild sheep live. A shepherd watches over them in summer, and we - the air force - accompany him. A connection between man, animal and environment.

"Thank you so much for these beautiful, atypical portraits in a sumptuous setting. Long live your film!"

- AUDIENCE| at Saint-Martin-du-Mont, FRANCE

Well done

"For these beautiful images is the spirit that introduces us to the diversity of the shepherding profession, which deserves to be known by the younger generation."

"Thank you for this wonderful film and the beautiful mountain scenery. The sheepdogs really pop! A shepherd's job isn't easy every day, but it's a rich one."

- AUDIENCE| at Meillonnas, FRANCE

Thank you for showing your film

I enclose a photo of my herd.

- NICOLAS | Goat and sheep breeder

This film gives a voice to admired protagonists

They are so courageous and faithful to their values that they are able to align their actions with their philosophies of life. They have taken risks, given up a life where material goods are more accessible, and are now focusing on connecting with themselves and what seems important to them in their existence. The shots are superb, immersing us in the shepherds' wanderings across majestic landscapes in the silence of the mountains.

- PATRICK AMSON | Cinéma Division - Champigny-sur-Marne

Thank you, Camille, for visiting CinéMalraux!

"These beautiful portraits are good for our viewers."

"Thank you for these wonderful trips to high altitudes!"

"It was absolutely wonderful and very moving. Long live our shepherds!"

"It is a great joy to see the beauty of the mountains and these people of such authentic richness."

— AUDIENCE | Film screening and discussion in Chambéry

Thank you for bringing us back to essential values.

"A magnificent film that is both beautiful and very true to life. It will inspire our five boys!"

"An immersion in the mountains that gives you ideas for a career change."

"Tom and Lyvia (aged 5 and 5½) were captivated and intrigued by everything they saw. A beautiful work of rare authenticity."

— AUDIENCE | Film screening and discussion in Montmélian

PRESS

THE FILM ACCOMPANIED BY THE PRESS

–––––––––

UPCOMING SCREENINGS

EVENTS FOLLOWED BY ENRICHING DEBATES

–––––––––

DU 7 AU 26 AOÛT 2026

TOURNÉE ÉVÈNEMENT
GR©738 – SENTIER DES BERGERS

Soirée d’ouverture le Jeudi 11 juin 2026 au cinéma Jean Renoir de Pontcharra

Designed by ER & CW

Terms and Conditions of Use–Legal Notices and Privacy Policies

This site is not part of the Facebook site or Facebook Inc.

Furthermore, this site is not endorsed by Facebook in any way. FACEBOOK is a registered trademark of FACEBOOK, Inc.