Travel & Discovery

Vanuatu, paradise in danger

Vanuatu. A tiny patch of earth lost in the middle of Oceania. This archipelago of 80 paradisiacal islands has long remained far apart from our world and has succeeded in preciously guarding its secrets. It’s a veritable Eden, living to the rhythm of its erupting volcanoes, its coral sands lapped by the waves and its inhabitants, fierce guardians of a tradition, “the custom”, that is steeped in magic, witchcraft and even cannibalism. However, fresh siren voices are calling. Those of tourism and modernity. At the capital, Port-Vila, cruise liners sail alongside traditional craft. Property developers have their greedy eyes on the sacred lands of the archipelago. And it’s only a short while since the children of Vanuatu have had to go to school. This is the story of a virgin land suddenly opening up to the world. How is this archipelago in the South Pacific managing its entry into the 21st century? Pascal, the French explorer, Marcel, a future clan chief, Sylvain, the volcanologist, Hilary, the Green mermaid battling global warming, Loïc, the property developer and Mark, the flying doctor… We follow these six key characters at the heart of the “big bang” Made in Vanuatu.

Tonga, a Kingdom at the crossroads

Lost in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, midway between New Caledonia and French Polynesia, a string of islands stretches out over nearly 500 km: Tonga. Kings and queens have succeeded one another ever since antiquity in this country that has overcome many a challenge: avoiding colonization, preserving its language and its traditions and introducing a constitutional monarchy as early as the 19th century. We discover a remarkable people, with a younger generation, living in the age of the Internet, torn between respect for its customs and the desire for elsewhere.

A journey into the heart of the Bordeaux vineyards: tradition meets modernity

The Bordeaux vineyards are the very image of French good taste and life style and they export throughout the world. How was the reputation of this unique wine-producing area built up over the passage of time? Who are the men and women who embody the elite among wines, the famous grands crus classés? What are the issues that they have to face for the future? To discover this world apart, this documentary sets out on a journey through time, from Eleanor of Aquitaine and her marriage, the moment when Bordeaux wines took wing across the seas, to the future where drones and satellites present a new face of the Bordeaux region. The film also visits winegrowers in their châteaux. And it is also a wondrous journey through the skies to reveal the most mythical châteaux of the Bordeaux region in the Médoc, the Graves and Saint-Emilion from a totally fresh angle.

Underground wonders of France

There’s another world just a few meters under the ground: a world of rocks carved by time and the humidity of the deep. France is one of the world’s leading countries in underground tourism. The land that bred Jules Verne and his “Journey to the Center of the Earth” possesses hundreds of caves, caverns and other sinkholes, all open to the public. Miracles of nature, whose renown goes far beyond the borders of France. This film is an introduction to the owners of these treasures “six feet under” and it shows how they manage these unusual businesses. Using original technical means, we delve into the bowels of the earth to follow the work of those devotees who work day after day in these strange and staggering worlds.

The lovers of the lagoon

For all those who love the tropical seas, the New Caledonia lagoon is Nirvana. For the largest lagoon on the planet is also the most beautiful. A UNESCO world heritage listed site, the Caledonian lagoon owes its dazzling health to an extremely low pressure of human presence. That’s because the vast territory of Caledonia (the main island is 400 km long) has only 250,000 inhabitants. As a result the lagoon offers huge, totally virgin spaces. A veritable inland sea, the blue Caledonian jewel case contains a host of habitats and ecosystems: islets, sand bars, sunken reefs, mangroves, etc.… oases of marine life that teem with species and provide a fabulous larder for the inhabitants of the archipelago. Aided by magnificent aerial and sub-marine images, the film presents the portrait of six “Lovers of the Lagoon”: an adventurer in his den in the north of the island, a biologist specializing in the universe of coral, a woman doctor, defender of the Melanesian culture, a kite-surfer from Numea and a young nature warden from Lifou, in the Loyalty Islands. They have all been enchanted by the stunning beauty of the lagoon. They have all made it their daily lives and their finest reason for living.

Tahiti, a mountain in the sea

Worthy descendants of the first explorers of these islands at the end of the world, they are firefighters, woodcutters, nature guides and hunters with the bow. They make up a veritable family within the GPI… the Group Polyvalent d’Intervention [Multitask Intervention Group]. They are experts in extreme environments and the passion for nature and the mountain runs through their very core. Exploring canyons, descending the highest waterfalls in Polynesia… saving lives… going where others dare not go… that is their daily round.

In the skies of Polynesia

In another life they were fighter pilots, mechanics with Boeing or military instructors. Today they have realized their dream: to set up in Polynesia and fly over one of the most beautiful regions in the world. Stéphane and Vincent are aces of the air… they teach stunt flying to visiting tourists and the inhabitants of the islands. And when they are not playing daredevils with their students, they put their skills to the service of another clientele… the one that lives on the tiny private islands… islands at the end of the world, accessible only by plane. For these isolated populations, a plane service is essential… but the landing strips on these islands look more like pocket-handkerchiefs… you need skill and the ability to retain a cool head. O’Neil has plenty of both. He is one of the team of Air Archipel pilots who can land anywhere on Polynesian territory. His mission is to save lives by carrying out “évasans” [évacuations aériennes sanitaires] or emergency air rescue operations.

Crazy for the Puy du Fou

Tigers looming out of nowhere, blood-smeared gladiators, barbarian hordes attacking villages… The Puy du Fou is a phenomenon. This amusement park, which gives the history of France the Hollywood treatment, is enjoying huge success. Lost in the depths of provincial France it draws hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Spread over several hundred hectares are castles, princesses, knights… From the very young to the very old, everybody joins in the fun and takes the plunge into the Middle Ages. With their epic battles and fairy tale adventures, the many spectacular shows have earned the Puy du Fou the title of best amusement park in the world. And as the park is expanding in size, the concept is now exported all over the world. A look behind the scenes of an incredible success. Thea Classic Award 2012: The Best Park in the World

USA the deep South

From the State of Georgia to the Gulf of Mexico, across Alabama and then down the Mississippi to its mouth, “USA, the Deep South” is a journey of encounter with those who love the Deep South. Elgin Wells combines his two passions: music and stunt flying. Pilot, musician, poet, he is one of the few in America to present nighttime aerial displays. At Natchez, on the banks of the Mississippi, Pat Martin and Gay Guercio open the doors to Stanton Hall and Longwood, two magnificent mansions in the heart of the old cotton plantations. On Avery Island, the descendants of Edmund McIlhenny produce Tabasco, a simple recipe based on Mexican spices that has remained unchanged for 150 years. In the Atchafalaya Basin, an extraordinary nature reserve that is a paradise for birds, crawfish and alligators, Roy Blanchard and Shane Doucet are fighting to preserve their identity as Acadians, descendants of the first immigrants, who still speak old French. And to finish, as Hurricane Isaac approaches, a most unlikely encounter with Chris and Steve, crab fishermen in the swamps on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico.

The passage

The Yucatan. A tiny corner of the world bathed by the oceans. A land of crystal clear waters and dense jungle linked by hitherto unexplored subterranean networks. The cradle of the Mayan civilisation and the point of impact of the Chicxulub meteorite, which is said to be the cause of the disappearance of the dinosaurs. To explore this land so steeped in history and discover its secrets: one man. The body of an athlete. An intense, hybrid character, with powers of adaptation beyond the norm: Guillaume Nery. Five times world champion for constant weight free diving. Astride the frontier of environments, half-man, half-fish, moving with equal delight over land or under the sea, he is constantly pushing the boundaries of his physical capacity to further his desire for exploration and, in the water, his quest for a unique form of beauty. It is in this surreal environment that Guillaume will attempt a rare performance with the promise of previously unseen images: a free dive into the heart of a legendary cenote. - Highly Commended Diploma of the Jury of the 11th Matsalu Nature Film Festival 2013 - Winner of the Best Cinematography Award and the Special Mention of the Public at the Paftachov Festival 2013 in Czech Republic - Winner of the Special Mention of the Jury at the European Underwater and Environment Film Festival of Strasbourg 2013 - Winner of the Special Mention of the Jury at the Festival of Antibes 2012 - Winner of the Special Mention of the Jury and the Public Choice Award at the Toulon Film Festival 2012 - Winner of the Special Mention of the Jury at the Marseille Underwater Film Festival 2012