Andes Bicycle Expedition
A Crossing of the Bolivian Altiplano
PRESS KIT
Short synopsis
Long synopsis
Biographies
About the production
Film festivals
Media coverage
Pictures & trailer
Future projects
Contact us
Short synopsis
Unassisted by support vehicles, GPS, or communication devices, two travellers cross the Bolivian Altiplano by bicycle. Their expedition takes them across one of the world's most remote and forbidding areas. Set high in the Bolivian Andes at roughly 4000 meters (13,000 feet) in altitude, the Altiplano is known for its extreme climate and harsh living conditions. It is also home to the Aymara people, whose fascinating culture is rooted in ancient tradition. Like the landscape of the Andes itself, the peaks and valleys of Yannick's and Kathleen's experience reveal a journey that is truly unique and unforgettable.
Long synopsis
In their debut documentary, Kathleen Mullin and Yannick Daoudi take off on an unforgettable adventure across the Bolivian Altiplano-by bicycle!
Unassisted by support vehicles, GPS, or communication devices, their expedition takes them across one of the world's most remote and forbidding areas. Set high in the Bolivian Andes at roughly 4000 meters (13,000 feet) in altitude, the Altiplano is known for its extreme climate and harsh living conditions. From Lake Titicaca, Yannick and Kathleen cycle southward, carrying everything they need on their bicycles: camping and cooking equipment, clothing, and food, knowing they are unlikely to find much shelter and sustenance in this desolate, sparsely populated land.
Throughout the expedition, Yannick and Kathleen battle the elements in order to move forward: fighting altitude sickness and extreme cold; pushing their bikes through impossible stretches of sand and abominable roads; struggling against a vicious Andean wind; questing for water in the arid wilderness; and trying to find food in a country where roadblocks have cut off supplies to remote areas.
Bolivia's political situation provides the backdrop for this journey. Yannick and Kathleen witness the unrest of the Aymara people, Bolivia's indigenous majority, whose history of conflict with European-descended leaders runs deep and fierce.
During their stay, the Bolivian government is overthrown by mass civil uprising and protests, an event which will lead to the election of Evo Morales as Bolivia's first indigenous head of state.
Like most adventures that are off the beaten track, this bicycle expedition will inspire you with highs that clearly outweigh the hardships endured. To sleep in perfect silence under a dome of sparkling stars; to cycle under a pristine blue sky with none but the occasional llama watching by the roadside; to meet and speak with the people who live at this barren altitude; to cross the vast and magical Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt desert. Like the landscape of the Andes itself, the peaks and valleys of Yannick's and Kathleen's experience reveal a journey that is truly unique and unforgettable.
Biographies
Yannick Daoudi
was born in 1978 in Morocco, spent his teenage years in the United States, then moved to Montreal for 11 years of university studies. In 2007, he moved to Lennoxville to live and teach. A life-long student, Yannick is now in his 12th year of full time studies, ever-hopeful of completing a Ph.D. in Education. He applies his student philosophy to all aspects of life, always looking for something new to learn from a stranger in an unfamiliar land. His greatest passion in life is travel and adventure.
Kathleen Mullin
was born in 1974 in Quebec's Eastern Townships. She has lived in Montreal for 10 years, and also briefly in Halifax and Vancouver. After "flitting about" for a few years as a painter, guitar-sander, head-masseuse, tree-planter and kitchen slave, Kathleen finally buckled down to her BA in English, and went on to complete an MA in Creative Writing at Concordia University. She is now a freelance writer and English teacher, and counts herself blessed to have a schedule that accommodates travelling for a few month every year.
Yannick and Kathleen
met in the spring of 2000; two months later, they were off on a 4-month bike trip from Beijing to Bangkok. They travelled together for 7 years, visiting over 20 countries on 4 continents. Their complementary interests provided them with a well-rounded experience of places and cultures, and kept the home fires burning. Yannick and Kathleen produced their first documentary film in 2006, a record of their recent bicycle expedition across the Bolivian Altiplano. In 2007, Yannick and Kathleen decided to separate to each follow a different direction in life, they remain best friends.
About the production
This is Kathleen's and Yannick's first venture in documentary filmmaking. Having travelled to several fascinating countries around the world, they decided to document their next expedition in order to give the public a vivid experience of bicycle travel.
The credits list is scarce: Yannick and Kathleen built the entire film themselves, from start to finish. The hands-on experience of filming every scene and every detail was to literally see through new eyes; it was an invaluable learning experience, both in terms of technique and also on a social level, learning to interact with local cultures through the lens of a camera.
Original music for the documentary was composed and performed by Kathleen's brother, Curtis Mullin, and long-time friend Sarah Biggs.
Yannick spent countless hours in the editing room back in Montreal, meticulously piecing, arranging and orchestrating scenes to give a vivid, inspiring portrait of the Altiplano experience. The result is a fluid, fascinating, deeply human documentary, which will appeal to hardened adventurers and "armchair travellers" alike.
Filming the documentary while travelling on bicycles meant that, in addition to carrying 10 days worth of food, 60 hours worth of water, personal belongings, and camping and cooking gear, Yannick and Kathleen also carted the extra weight of all the filming equipment-a total load of 120 kg (260 lbs).
Film festivals
Official Selection at the 10th annual Vancouver Mountain Film Festival, Canada (February 10-16, 2007)
Official selection at the 8th annual Hory A Mesto Adventure and Moutain Film Festival, Slovakia (May 24-26, 2007)
Official selection at the 5th annual Wanaka Mountain Film Festival, New Zealand (July 5-8, 2007)
Media coverage
2 radio interviews
A la bonne heure
: January 24, 2006
Forum Radio
: February 28, 2006
2 newspaper articles
Forum
: Volume 40, issue 21, February 20, 2006
McGill Reporter
: Volume 38, issue 11, February 9, 2006
3 magazine articles
Pedal
: Volume 20, issue 4, Summer 2006
Les Explorateurs
: #36, June 2006
Ukula
: Volume 2, issue 1, January 2006
1 television interview
"Caméra tout-terrain": Show #15, February 2007 on Canal D
Pictures & trailer
Download the high-resolution version by clicking on the picture:
Publicity images:
The trailer
Screenshots from film:
Pictures from expedition:
Future projects
We are looking for funding for various unique film projects. Themes include:
Riding the Mongolian steppes: A 1000km horseback ride across Northern Mongolia
Life Along the Niger: A Descent of the Niger River in Mali by Canoe
The Blue Men's Journey: A Crossing of the Sahara by Dromedary (from Morocco to Mali)
Please contact us for more details on any of these projects.
Contact us
Any inquiries should be sent to
Documentary order form
