It is a bare, raw, arid mountain in the desolate landscape of the Gulf of Normandy 300 million years ago. As if by magic, a monastery appears on its zenith. Known among a thousand people, Mont Saint-Michel. The sea surrounds it, nature is greening up, civilization is taking its place, here we are in 2021. The air that boils from the earth, spewing lava and saturated with suffocating gases takes us back 2 billion years. How did we go from lava to cathedral builders, from stone deserts to the Industrial Revolution? It is World History that tells the History of France. The country still bears the scars of this, without us even being aware of it. And that’s the whole point of this amazing documentary.
amazing pictures
The Eiffel Tower erected in warm, salty lagoons, a coral reef in Burgundy, the Château de Chambord in the middle of a lagoon, in a sea dominated by sharks… The juxtaposition of the distant past with the present is remarkable. The authors of this film, Michael Pitiot and geologist Arnaud Guérin, have succeeded in translating what science has taught us about origins into accessible images. To do this, they used cinematic techniques such as modeling or matte painting, which made it possible to overlay footage shot on different sets. At least 22 graphic designers worked for six months to create 25,000 images that resulted in 76 realistic shots. Crews went to film locations on the planet reminiscent of today’s France: Iceland, Australia or New Zealand, for example. And we took ourselves on this amazing time travel. The majestic Armorican Massif, covered with lush forests, rises 8,000 meters before our eyes. A map is taking shape with Lyon and Paris on the top of the mountains, Brest 100 kilometers from the sea, Spain has not yet knocked on our door and there is no Channel.
genius of men
The ocean that covered the country brought the living conditions. Limestone, ashlars, clay were born, allowing building and settlement. Fertilized soils allowed agriculture to flourish. And we understand that if Man is a dust in the great History of the planet, he is the dust of genius inextricably linked with nature, as the geologist Arnaud Guérin points out: “When you look at the local products that make up the wealth and reputation of our lands, it is the expression of the nature of the soil with the human genius who has developed knowledge. Look at a cheese board, this is geology. A French wine list? This is geology. And this is fascinating.
France, amazing trip: Tuesday 11 July at 21:05 in France 2
Marc Teynier
Source: Programme Television
Joseph Fearn is an entertainment and television aficionado who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a keen eye for what’s hot in the world of TV, Joseph keeps his readers informed about the latest trends and must-see shows.
