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Survival strategies
In the African savannah, life is a succession of challenges that must be overcome if one wants to see the next day. Growing up, finding food, moving around, breeding, all these vital needs require coming up with survival strategies that can be perilous.
Through the fate of various animals, the whole theatre of life is revealed with its constant struggles punctuated by brief moments of respite.
BAHIA, THE AFRICAN HERITAGE [52’]
The story of the "Bay of All Saints"
In 1500, in the region of Salvador in Brazil, the first Portuguese settlers landed and built their first colonial city: Salvador de Bahia, known as "the Bay of All Saints".
The indigenous tribes were decimated and replaced by African slaves working mainly in mills.
Today, Salvador's African heritage can still be felt in the culture, the music and the arts while its inhabitants strive to perpetuate the memory of their ancestors.
FEAR ON THE SAVANNAH [52’]
A primal emotion
This is the story of the rehabilitation of an African national park.
After the first step of successfully acclimating herbivores, it is time to reintroduce lions. But with them comes predation and suddenly fear overtakes the park.
This epic wildlife film illustrates a universal feeling: terror.
KOMODO, SEX AND DRAGONS [52’]
An eventful courtship
An imposing adult male is determined to mate with a young female. A trivial episode in the animal kingdom one might think. But when it takes place in one of the most hostile archipelagos in the world, and when the animals involved are the ferocious Komodo dragons, we know the courtship promises to be eventful.
Baby dragons perched 10 meters high in trees; an old one who wants more offsprings; a young male ready to mate but who must deal with a rival bent on killing him; a recalcitrant female; macaques, deer, and buffalo living in close proximity to their predators: these are the characters in this saga.
Dramatic scenes, imposing landscapes, and beautiful photography combine to make this a spectacular film.
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.
These modern explorations are done with wide-open eyes on foot, by train, or by boat.
MASTERS OF HONEY [52’]
A universal ingredient
One of the oldest contributions from Nature to Mankind, honey is one of the few ingredients to be truly universal. Everywhere it is part of the culinary heritage and can be found on the menus of the best chefs as well as on the shelves of local markets.
From Corsica and Provence to the Greek island of Ikaria and the eastern mountains of Kackar in Turkey, we meet passionate beekeepers extracting exceptional honey with unique taste and texture.
In this film, we visit incredible landscapes to discover the tasty world of the masters of honey.
MASTERS OF SAVOURS [13x52’]
The taste of Nature
Nature has provided Humanity with edible plants offering an infinity of tastes and sensations. Over the centuries, with patience and passion, man has developed the know-how to transform them into exceptional food.
This series is about men and women who have learned how to magnify different ingredients to please the palates of discerning gourmets.
This unique collection is a culinary exploration of the world, taking us from vineyards to rice fields and deep forests to discover authentic lifestyles and stunning landscapes.
MASTERS OF VANILLA [52’]
The favorite spice of lovers of sweet things
It is one of the favorite spices of lovers of sweet things. Its evocative name is synonymous with subtle aromas.
However, it must be authentic because the vanilla can only be natural for purists, like pastry chefs or ice-cream makers. Unfortunately, the market has gone wild, and artificial flavor retailers are everywhere.
This film takes us on a journey from Madagascar's primary forests to the islands of Polynesia, where growers have one obsession: to magnify this green vine for the pleasure of our taste buds.
SUDAN, THE OTHER NILE COUNTRY [52’]
Land of adventures
From the shores of the Red Sea to Central Africa, Sudan boasts an eventful, interesting and little-known history.
Multiple faces, cultures and landscapes are spread out along the Nile, a nourishing axis that crosses the entire country and is its biggest natural wealth generator. Recovering after years of civil war, the country is awakening and reveals to visitors its treasures buried in the sands of Nubia, a northern region long in the shadow of Egypt.
The thousand-year-old history of this Afro-Arab country, its incomparable cultural richness, the infinite kindness of its inhabitants and their legendary hospitality promise a journey full of beautiful discoveries.
THE CAIMAN AND THE DOOMED SWAMP [52’]
The dry season ordeal
The Pantanal, in Brazil, is the largest swampland in the world and every year, without fail, it inflicts a frightful ordeal on its inhabitants. Indeed, the dry season shrinks it to drastic proportions sending the local wildlife into a desperate race against the clock.
The animals have to reach one of the few remaining humid areas knowing that there won’t be enough room for everyone. For the numerous caimans this comes down to a struggle for life.
This film follows one of them, a young male. Will he be able to find space in a safe zone and stay there until the rains come back, synonymous of survival and mating?
THE OTHER FRENCH GASTRONOMY [52’]
Northern France gastronomy
Close to the Belgian border, Northern France was better known for its earthy and basic country-style dishes than for its culinary sophistication. But things are changing and Lille, the main city, is fast becoming a gastronomic destination with new talents emerging.
This film unveils this transition from traditional cuisine to creative gastronomy steeped in the region’s roots and local products, showcasing dishes that deserve to be known.
#FRENCH VERSION [170x26’]
The French art-de-vivre
Fashion, design, gastronomy, the art of living... Katherina Marx, a passionate ambassador of French chic, meets the who’s who of lifestyle pundits.
In each episode, a significant guest and reports shine a light on France and its young creators as well as on swanky and trendy places.
AVIATOR [2x52’]
Masters of the sky
From inside the cockpit, a flight is no longer exactly the same.
This series focuses not only on pilots but also on the mythical planes that have graced our skies.
During a flight aboard one of these extraordinary aircrafts, we discover the reality, the complexity, the ingenuity of the machines and the men who work in this world driven by passion.
BEAUTIFUL STRANGERS [80x45’]
Burned. Forgotten. Resurrected.
Joyce, an aspiring interior designer, wants to start a family with her boyfriend, Noel. One day, Joyce meets Ronaldo, a major client who mistakes her for a high-class prostitute. When he moves to defile her, she resists and accidentally falls down the stairs. Panicked, thinking she is dead, Ronaldo burns her body and dumps it deep in the forest.
Years later, Noel having moved on from his grief, meets Kristine, a beautiful plastic surgeon. She is also Ronaldo’s illegitimate daughter. One night, Kristine gets into trouble but is rescued by a homeless woman with burnt skin. In gratitude, Kristine surgically restores the charred woman’s body. With a new lease on life, the homeless woman, Joyce, who is amnesic, assumes the name Lea and starts anew.
Lea eventually finds love in Lawrence, Kristine’s half-brother. But on her wedding day, her lost memories suddenly rushes back to her.
BECOMING CHANEL [52’]
The story of a myth
Chanel's first outlet, established in 1910, was a hat shop. Indeed, Coco Chanel was forbidden to sell clothes there because a seamstress had her business at that same address.
Today, Chanel is one of the world's most famous luxury brands. Emblematic of high-end French fashion, its international appeal has not wavered for more than a century.
How did this woman, born at the end of the 19th century into a destitute family, become this mythical figure?
BECOMING DE GAULLE [52’]
A visionary from an early age
General Charles de Gaulle is a multi-faceted man. There is the savior, a leading figure in French history during WWII. There is the intimate man, the one who cuddled his trisomic daughter, loved the simplicity of family life and always in need of Yvonne, the woman of his life.
And then there is the lesser known side of the man, a visionary even from an early age.
This film tells the story of young Charles becoming General de Gaulle, the many challenges he imposed on himself. The story begins on November 22, 1890, and ends on June 18, 1940, in London.
BLACK NIGHT IN PARIS [52’] or [90’]
An indelible trauma
Police officers, first-aid workers and victims tell us about the course of events which occurred in the fatal evening of November 13, 2015.
We follow each stage of this murderous night from the attacks at the Stade de France, the shootings at the terraces of bars and restaurants in the 11th district to the bloodbath at the Bataclan. 3D images help understand the events and their preparation.
The film also looks at Salah Abdeslam's arrest in Molenbeek, Belgium, and the attack on Brussels airport which shed new light on the terrorist networks operating between France and Belgium.
Allso available as a 90'
CHAPLIN VS THE FBI [52’]
A 30 years feud
One wants to protect America from the Red peril, the other wants to entertain it and denounce its injustices.
Convinced that Charlie Chaplin was in Moscow's pay, J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI's big boss, kept spying on him for 30 years.
Cold war and low blows were natural parts of this merciless hunt. A dive into the troubled waters of a paranoid America.
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.
FRANCE UNDER THE ALLIED BOMBS [3x52’]
Unnecessary civilian casualties
After 4 years of Nazi occupation, the French welcomed the liberation by the allied forces. Immediately afterwards, they focused entirely on the reconstruction of the country, occulting the dark years of the war.
But as time went by, and thanks to historical research, questions began to emerge. Indeed, French cities were heavily bombed by the allied aviation, but was the sacrifice of the civilian population really necessary? Were there strategic mistakes and why were they not acknowledged?
Through the tragic destiny of 3 cities (Le Havre, Royan and Rouen), this collection opens a dark and still little known page of WWII.
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.
IBEX, ICON OF THE ALPS [52’]
The Lord of the mountains
The Ibex is an animal emblematic of the Alps.
This film, through some surprising images covering several seasons, teaches us a lot of unknown things about this Lord of the mountains.
It also questions our ability to share the environment with the wild fauna and the respect it is due.
NANNI MORETTI'S POLITICS [52’]
The upheaval of Italian society as seen through cinema
For more than forty years, movie director Nanni Moretti has been telling the story of his generation in the face of the succession of events that have shaken Italian society: the '77 movement, terrorism, the end of the Communist Party, and the Berlusconi era.
Between existential crises and idealistic impulses, his very personal style alternates between satire, criticism, civil commitment, and disenchantment.
NATURAL PARKS, THE TREASURES OF LIFE [11x52’]
Very unusual guides
Natural parks are a blend of animals, plants, and minerals.
This series is a breath of fresh air, spiced up with unusual interventions. The comical little insects of the "Minuscule" animated saga serve as mischievous guides, inlaid here and there in the images of the "real" wildlife. These insects in CGI tell us, in an offbeat way but with humor and poetry, about the environment in which we live, via the history, geology, fauna, and flora of the most beautiful and protected places in the world.
An original dive into the heart of remarkable territories blessed with an exceptional natural heritage, from the infinitely large to the infinitely small.
PUTIPHAR'S TRAVEL GUIDES [11x52’]
A 19th century globe-trotter
Petrus Putiphar is the author of travel guides.
This professional fictional traveler identifies sights to visit, museums, gardens, or places to check, he walks around cities and blackens the pages of his notebook while sharing his discoveries and observations.
We follow him to Paris, London, Vienna, Constantinople, Amsterdam, or Saint Petersburg. Flagship capitals of the 19th century... because Putiphar travels at that very period.
SECRETS OF HISTORY - PORTRAITS [120x100’]
Exceptional destinies
This series unveils the great mysteries of the past by evoking exceptional destinies, known or unknown.
Each episode retraces the life of an emblematic historical character and highlights remarkable heritage sites.
SLOVENIA, LAND OF THE BEAR [52’]
The secrets of a successful cohabitation
In Slovenia, on the edge of the last primary forests in Europe, man and bear coexist in peace. This small country has become a model in this respect. The animal has even inspired a rich and colourful folklore.
How did the Slovenians manage to live in harmony with the plantigrade? Breeders, researchers and even artists show us the way in a country where nature and traditions are still very much intertwined.
Over the seasons, this film crosses the paths of bears and humans in a magnificent and incredibly well-preserved ecosystem.
SPECIAL OPS [6x52’]
In the heart of combat
This series takes us inside armed combat through different missions of the French Special Forces thanks to CGI and archives of the US Army.
War has never felt so real.
Also available as 6x70'
THE BRIDGES OF PARIS [52’] or [70’]
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'
THE GREAT MASTERS OF PAINTING [15x52’]
The greatest art geniuses
They have been piercing observers of their times, leaving their works for posterity.
Often misunderstood, even harassed by the critics, they were trailblazers of new artistic movements which transformed art forever and still fascinate scholars today.
This series is a thrilling journey into the world of the greatest painting geniuses.
THE INSIDER [12x52’]
Embedded into elite units
The 13th RDP of the French Special Forces. The SWAT from Miami. The Star & Rescue from Singapore. Each of these structures has its own training and intervention techniques.
In this series, a martial arts expert and renowned stuntman infiltrates these prestige elite units to offer a unique perspective on the world best and most secret special forces.
THE MAN WHO DEFIED AMERICA [52’]
The 30 years showdown between General de Gaulle and the USA
The hostility of the United States towards 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 that pitted de Gaulle against America from 1940 to 1969.
THE MAN WHO DEFIED BEIJING [58’]
The forgotten Nobel Peace Prize winner
Human rights hero and 2010 Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo was a key figure in the Tiananmen uprising. He was arrested under the same security law China imposed upon Hong Kong, spent 9 years in jail, and died a few weeks upon his release.
His name remains little known outside of Asia as the Chinese regime has done everything possible to erase it from our collective memory. Alas, for the Beijing masters, Liu Xiaobo left a political legacy in the form of a lengthy interview before his arrest.
This exceptional film is his legacy supplemented with the testimonials of those closest to him. The portrayal of the great Man is also the compelling story of China's radical mutations.
THE OTHER GOERING [52’]
A divided brotherhood
You're not always responsible for your family members. Especially when you're the brother of one of the greatest war criminals, Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering.
It's hard to present oneself as a champion of individual freedoms when, in 1945, the death camps are being discovered, that the war has claimed millions of lives and every average German declares himself to be anti-Nazi.
And yet, Hermann's brother, Albert Goering, calls himself a protector of the weak and oppressed. We find out that the devil had an archangel brother.
THE PATH OF MEN [14x52’]
The many routes of civilizations
This series crosses geographical, historical, cultural and sociological discoveries with mythical roads cleared by adventurers or mapped over time by civilizations, explorers, conquering states, itinerant merchants.
It puts into perspective the development of civilizations over several hundred years and reflects on the evolution of nature and humanity throughout the world.
We follow the great trajectories forged by man driven by geology, raw material or green wealth.
TOXIC BURDEN [52’] or [75’]
A civilization disease
This film follows the tradition of major investigations into health and environmental issues.
Although the subject is basically "scientific", the theme of allergies is an extraordinary tool for exploring the complex relationship between humans and their environment.
The more we investigate the causes of the explosion of allergies in the world, the more we understand the societal character of what has gradually become a "disease of civilization".
XDDL, THE FATHER IS THE KILLER [84’]
A family murdered
In April 2011, in France, the bodies of a woman, her 4 children and 2 dogs are found buried under the terrace of their house. Only the body of the father, Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès, a.k.a. XDDL, is missing.
Everything points to him being the executioner of the carefully planned and executed murder of his whole family. But how did this apparently harmless conservative catholic come up with this devil enterprise?
Mixing re-enactments and testimonies, this riveting docudrama revives a criminal affair from the standpoint of the presumed murderer. To this day, XDDL’s whereabouts remain unknown making this case a real mystery.