Film – If the glaciers don’t return
Si les glaciers ne revenaient pas (If the glaciers don’t return) in French. Trailer here.
Synopsis
This is a thought-provoking documentary that highlights the urgent environmental challenges facing the Alps as glaciers rapidly retreat. Directed by Swiss filmmaker Yves Magat, the film delves into the implications of glacier loss on mountain agriculture, tourism, energy production, and ecosystems. With scientific forecasts predicting the disappearance of most Alpine glaciers by the end of the century, the film raises critical questions about water management in the future.
The documentary follows Gaëtan Morard, director of the Valaisan Bisses Museum, as he explores the traditional irrigation systems known as “bisses.” Traditional irrigation, designated as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage in 2023, have long been used by mountain communities to share and manage water collectively. Morard examines whether this traditional knowledge could offer sustainable solutions to water shortages exacerbated by climate change.
Through interviews with experts and visits to key sites, “Si les glaciers ne revenaient pas” sheds light on the delicate balance between human activities and the natural environment. As global attention turns to glacier preservation—especially with 2025 declared the International Year for Glacier Preservation—the film underscores the importance of collective action and sustainable resource management in the face of looming environmental crises.
Produced by IDIP Films and the Valaisan Bisses Museum, this documentary invites viewers to reflect on the future of water in a rapidly changing world.