Eagles and wolves are not so far apart! When he went back to the Alps to fulfil his childhood dream of filming eagles in their natural environment, Jean-Michel Bertrand sensed that there may be wolves, those legendary creatures, somewhere nearby. Wolves have long fascinated people, alarming us and making us dream. The thought that there might be some nearby turned into an obsession for this director who is also an adventurer and investigator. The result is a breathless and powerful documentary. The highs and lows are narrated by the film maker himself, with off-camera voices and commentary serving us up a veritable legend of the Alps. Wolves are the actors in a genuine mountain tale, proving as mysterious as they are inaccessible. That tricky situation does not deter our mountain adventurer, who shows tremendous patience and respect for nature as he goes beyond all expectations in a bid to see the animals in their wild surroundings. La Vallée des Loups is not just another run-of-the-mill animal documentary. It is a real cinematic work, with a point of view and a well considered mise en scène. There can be characters in a documentary. On his journey the film maker meets an array of unusual characters, and owls and goats become his travel companions. Helped by these special associates, the director plots his route on a simple drawing book, using X to mark places where he can bivouac, much like on a treasure map. Jean-Michel Bertrand has the strength of a hunter and the cunning of a fox, which is just as well, because to get as close as possible to the animal, he had to become like one and mark his territory. There was never any question of Jean-Michel Bertrand taking the easy option and filming wolves in parks or reservations. He is not the sort who would make a film about freedom and sacrifice honesty and ethics in the process, so he refuses to reveal the location of the creatures' lair. The film is raw and allows viewers to see these animals and the valley as spontaneously as possible. The majestic yet simple landscapes alternate with the director's narration, which is accompanied by Armand Amar's subtle music. The documentary ultimately comes down on the side of the wolves. Its stance impels us to wonder about the relationship between humans and the environment. This is a veritable fable in favour of nature, and in which nature enraptures us.

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