From Shade to Light

Alpinist Charles Dubouloz attempts a rarely climbed line on the daunting north face of the Grandes Jorasses, spending five bitter nights alone above the lights of Chamonix in the depth of winter. The documentary tracks his slow, deliberate progress across mixed ice and rock, focusing on the small choices and improvised fixes that keep him moving when weather and cold tighten their grip. Cameras stay close during camps and shorter moves, emphasizing routine tasks, rope management and the physical toll of repeated exposure. Small sensory details, breath and ice creaks, punctuate each frame.

From Shade to Light was released in 2022 and is directed by Davina Beyloos Montaz-Rosset and Sébastien Montaz-Rosset. The documentary features Charles Dubouloz as himself and uses intimate, on-slope cinematography to capture winter alpinism on the Grandes Jorasses in France.

The film saw a limited festival and specialty theatrical run rather than a wide commercial release. There are no widely reported box office figures, reflecting its niche appeal to mountaineering audiences and documentary festivals rather than mainstream cinema crowds overall.

No major awards have been reported for the film, and its recognition has mostly come through niche channels. It attracted attention among mountaineering media and specialist documentary programmers, though it did not secure high-profile prizes on the international festival circuit. It earned appreciation among climbers for its realism and clarity.

Viewers and reviewers note its spare, observational approach, with attention to technical detail, the toll of cold, and the mental steadiness required for prolonged exposure. It carries a 7.0/10 average from very limited votes, suggesting appreciation among enthusiasts who value authentic alpine filmmaking over dramatized spectacle, and quiet, immersive cinematography.