Jury & Presenteur

Edito Sylvain Tesson

In the 19th century, Russian novelist Ivan Gontcharov created the character Oblomov, a protagonist who incarnates the figure of the ultimate idler.
His homeland is his sofa. His life’s aim is napping. His favourite thing is doing absolutely nothing. The Russians adopted the word “oblomovism” to designate this penchant for utter apathy.
Behind Obmomov’s apparent resignation hides something more serious than simple fatigue. Here, we are dealing with a complete lack of desire, and a lack of desire is the doorway to death.
Completely opposite to Oblomov, I prefer the role of adventurer.
A person who stops at nothing. They shape their dreams and are eager to realise them. They love getting up and saying yes to life. They grab their ice axe (or their tiller) and forge their own path. They are never tired because they have chosen to live life to the full.
They lust after the peaks, a desert island, a wall, an ocean, a jungle, a steep mountain couloir… The Earth is a like a table dressed for dinner, and they are ready for a feast.
They see the world as a playground for their adventures and, unlike Oblomov, they sweep aside any nihilistic temptations.
Sometimes they fail. But what does that matter, when they have risen with the sun, bubbling over with desire?
One you have re-read Gontcharov’s Oblomov, open up the programme for the 26th edition of Val d’Isère’s Adventure & Discovery Film Festival.
Sometimes, it feels like our era has lost its passion for living, its confidence and its desire. Zero libido, as Freud might have said.
Thankfully, every year in Val d’Isère, these four days restore my faith in adventure.

Sylvain Tesson.