From one world to another: A poignant and modest documentary (review)

Through the prism of an epic in the Arctic, Jérémie Rénier recounts the painful journey of mourning the loss of his best friend: Gaspard Ulliel

Gaspard Ulliel and Jérémie Rénier were much more than friends. Real brothers. And the sudden disappearance of the first on January 19, 2022 in a skiing accident left the second inconsolable. How to recover from an absence that becomes more unbearable every day? During his painful grieving process, Jérémie Rénier crossed paths with Loury Lag, a professional explorer, in whom he found an attentive ear and even more an outstretched hand to return to the surface: the offer to accompany him on his next expedition to the Arctic. This documentary, his very first solo production (seven years after Carnivores, which he co-signed with his brother Yannick), is the story of this journey. The one where faced with the immensity of the landscapes, the extreme conditions encountered and the unexpected and destabilizing adventures that they generate, he will confront the pain of the absence of the friend who has disappeared forever in order to free himself from it.

Made by another, this journey accompanied in voice-over by his words like a shared diary, could have seemed voyeuristic. But the modesty of Jérémie Rénier, the man that he is and who has never pulled the rug out for himself, naturally prevents him from falling into this pitfall. The beauty of what he says there, the way in which he makes us share and feel what he is going through without twisting our arms commands admiration. Over the course of 73 minutes, his eminently personal message becomes universal. And echoes the pain that we have all felt in front of a loved one who we find difficult to believe will never be seen again. While creating a real feature film for the big screen, thanks to the remarkable work of cinematographer Fabien Ruyssen. There is no doubt that Gaspard would be proud of his friend. From his brother.

By Jérémie Rénier. Duration: 1h15. Released June 10, 2026