Ciné-rencontre Tout est parti d'ici

On 12 November 2025, the Rex cinema in Luchon will be hosting a major cultural event: the screening of the documentary Tout est parti d’ici, followed by a meeting with its directors Vincent Barthe and Virginie Mailles-Viard. The film revives a buried history of the Comminges region, that of France’s first hydrocarbon deposit, discovered at Saint-Marcet in 1939. For residents and visitors to the Haut-Garonne Pyrenees, it’s an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the industrial roots of this region, often perceived solely through its mountain and spa heritage. This film-meeting transforms Luchon into a veritable centre for reflection on local identity and memory.

VOIR LE PROGRAMME

Comminges, cradle of the French oil industry

Comminges is not Texas, yet on 14 July 1939, the region experienced its own energy boom. The Saint-Marcet field brought about a lasting transformation in the local area, creating thousands of jobs and attracting expertise from all over France. Simple farmers and lumberjacks became skilled drillers and recognised engineers. In Boussens, a revolutionary degasification plant was built, attracting a new population and generating significant economic prosperity. Saint-Gaudens became the French town with the highest number of shops per inhabitant. These socio-economic transformations have had a profound effect on the human landscape of the Comminges, creating a collective memory that this generation of mountain visitors is often unaware of when they arrive in Luchon.

A documentary that gives voice to wilful oblivion

Ten years of documentary work have enabled the filmmakers to collect invaluable eyewitness accounts, explore archives and record the stories of the last players in this industrial adventure. The film looks at the reasons for this gradual erasure of memory: why has a region that gave birth to one of France’s biggest industrial groups, Elf-Aquitaine, disappeared from the official narrative? Why does Total prefer to write its history without the Commingois chapters? This documentary provides nuanced answers, showing how institutional silences become established, how local memory disappears under the weight of the multinationals’ communication strategies. For visitors with an interest in history, geopolitics and the challenges of memory conservation, this screening offers a critical and enriching perspective.

Enhance your stay in Luchon with a local cultural experience

Coming to Luchon is about much more than thermal baths and mountain scenery. It’s about immersing yourself in a living region, with its history, its transformations and its diverse heritage. This film-meeting on 12 November at 8.15pm is part of an approach to meaningful tourism, where cultural discovery complements the mountain experience. At 7 euros a ticket (with the option of a season ticket), this event offers an excellent balance between cultural quality and accessibility. You can explore the region during the day, take part in the mountain activities, then round off your day with dinner at the restaurant and this documentary immersion and direct encounter with passionate creators. The filmmakers will take the time to answer your questions and share their discoveries, turning the evening into a genuine exchange rather than just a passive screening.

At Le Rex cinema in Luchon

Comminges, cradle of the French oil industry

A documentary that gives voice to wilful oblivion

Enhance your stay in Luchon with a local cultural experience