New Programs
Pushing back the limits
The bridges of Paris follow one another along the Seine river, all different since they were built over centuries and reflect the most advanced techniques of each era. First in wood, then in stone, metal and today in high-performance alloys, they have each time pushed back the limits of know-how.
How have these superstructures withstood the test of time? What challenges were met to gain in lightness and sturdiness, to improve span and strength?
Thanks to 3D images and the participation of the best experts, this film takes us back in time to discover the incredible story of the bridges of Paris.
Also available as a 70'
NEW ZEALAND, THE NORTH ISLAND [52’]
An episode from the series
FLAVORS
The North Island of New Zealand is a mosaic of exceptional landscapes, dotted with geysers, steaming valleys and volcanic cones of almost perfect shape.
This endearing and original land never ceases to charm and surprise thanks to its wild nature, welcoming inhabitants and breathtaking sceneries.
KAZCAR, NATURAL TURKEY [52’]
The white and green country
Northeastern Anatolia and the Kaçkar mountains are probably Turkey's best-kept secret.
Few visitors venture into this magnificent region close to Georgia where dizzying gorges, endless steppes, imposing mountains and highland pastures make up incredible landscapes.
In this film, we discover villages buried under the snow in winter and lush forests in summer.
LANDS OF THE EARTH : THE 52' COLLECTION [12x52’]
Exploring with wide open eyes
Today, exploring the world doesn’t have the same meaning as in the past. Indeed, very few corners of the planet remain unknown, although it would be wise for them to stay so.
With infinite passion and curiosity, the directors of these films brought back from their travels the discovery of small villages whose beauty had gone unnoticed, touching encounters and fascinating stories.
On foot, by train or by boat, these modern explorations are done with wide open eyes.
THE MAN WHO DEFIED AMERICA [52’]
The 30 years showdown between General de Gaulle and the USA
The hostility of the United States towards the General de Gaulle is not a secret anymore. Successive American administrations tried everything to subdue him without ever succeeding, using media manipulations or clandestine financing of his opponents to name a few strategies.
The showdown between the General and the USA would last 30 years.
This film explains the reasons behind this antagonism thanks to declassified archives and new testimonies. For the first time, it is now possible to recount this secret war which pitted de Gaulle against America from 1940 to 1969.
THE LUCKY ZEBRA [52’]
Some fare better than others
In nature, there are the herbivores to whom nothing smiles right away (barely born already eaten) and others who fare better like THE LUCKY ZEBRA. How else to call this little male born in the dry season who, throughout his life, will enjoy a lucky star.
Confronted with drought, predators, competing males, he always manages to get by. Over the years, he has led without fail and damage the small harem he has patiently built.
But in the end, is it just luck or is this zebra just more cautious, skillful and smart than the others?
HAITI, LIFE AT ALL COSTS [52’]
The Kangaroo method
On January 12, 2010, a brutal earthquake killed more than 200,000 people in Haiti.
Eight years later, the situation in the country is still chaotic, particularly in maternity wards. The one at the public hospital in Port au Prince is still a makeshift, an unsuitable premise without running water. Premature babies, the most fragile, have very little chance of survival.
A few kilometres away, however, the Saint Damien maternity ward is saving most of these little lives. Subsidized by an Italian NGO, equipped with state-of-the-art neonatal equipment, it relies on a program that has been proven in other poor countries: the Kangaroo method.
COBRA GYPSIES [52’]
The Roma ancestors
COBRA GYPSIES offers a colorful window into the startling ancient culture of the nomadic Kalbeliya tribes living in rural Rajasthan, Northern India. A decade ago, their folk songs and dances were declared a part of the Intangible Heritage List by the Unesco.
This film explores their culture of eternal dance, syncopated music, snake charming, colorful fashion as well as their way of life.
These exotic looking castoffs are the ancestors to the Roma Gypsies living in Europe today.
AL PACINO, THE RELUCTANT STAR [52’]
The many faces of an icon
Al Pacino made it onto the big stages from Broadway to Hollywood, but, being extremely shy, he is still somehow a mystery.
At the beginning of the 70’s, he got his first international success as Michael Corleone in "The Godfather" which was followed by legendary screen heroes such as drug lord Tony Montana, New York cop Serpico, bank robber Sonny Wortzig or blind colonel Frank Slade.
At nearly 80 years of age, Al Pacino continues to show his versatility by appearing both on stage and in front of the camera. He is a man with many faces. A gifted actor and a reluctant star.
GERHARD SCHRODER, DRUM UP YOUR COURAGE [52’]
The man who revived Germany
When Gerhard Schröder came to power, his country was depicted as the sickman of Europe. His actions -which often turned the back to his social-democrat roots- still explain today the division inside the society, the increasing divergence between east and west, rich and poor, politics and society. It cost him his reelection, a risk he was willing to take. But the radical changes he imposed helped Germany to regain its status.
Through hard work and discipline, Gerhard Schröder rose from humble origin to become one of the most powerful men in Germany.
Today his political savvy and expertise are sought after in a world increasingly dominated by populist leaders and autocratic states.
LA LA LA, A STORY OF MUSICALS [52’]
A playful panorama of an enchanting genre
More than a simple cinematographic genre, the musical is a state of mind, a kind of magic which can touch many things, our memories, of course, but also unexpected realms.
This film offers a playful panorama of an enchanting genre.
BORNEO DEATH BLOW [52’]
A blowpipe-hunter tribe uncertain future
The Borneo island is home to the Penan, a blowpipe-hunter tribe. They use deadly poison darts to catch their preys and are experts at building rainproof shelters in under an hour.
Their survival skills, nomadic culture and traditional knowledge enable them to be the last tribe remaining in one of the oldest and most diverse rainforests on Earth.
However, with around 90% of the forest cut down, the Penan are facing a dire future.