Best Documentary

Last chance Legionnaires, looking for meaning and a new life.

In the United States, there are 65,000 minors who are incarcerated. Children as young as 9 years old can be arrested and sent to prison. This country is the only one that has not ratified the International Convention on the Rights of the Child and treats its children as adults in the justice system. Many minors are held in adult prisons, but most are sent to juvenile facilities. Our team had the opportunity to visit two of these facilities, one in Texas and the other in Utah.

We embark on a journey to the distant and remote region of Patagonia, known for its scarce population and stunning beauty. At the southernmost tip of South America, we discover the fragile yet awe-inspiring landscapes of Southern Chile. Our first encounter is with Carlos Barria, a seaman and cattleman who resides in one of the most southerly locations on Earth. His ranch is situated near the legendary Cape Horn, offering a glimpse into a world far removed from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Next, we meet Philippe Reuter, an enthusiastic mountaineer who calls the base of the Andes' immense glaciers home. With a passion for exploration, he invites us to witness the breathtaking vistas and natural wonders that only the Patagonian wilderness can provide. Lastly, we encounter Jorge Arratia, a guide with a deep understanding of the balseros, the skilled raftsmen of Patagonia. In a remote valley, we witness the hard work of lumberjacks as they harvest cypress wood and transport it down the Rio Baker to the sea, where it is used to build homes and structures throughout the region. Director: Anne Viry-Babel Series: Around the World

The director Brando Baranzelli presents an environment degraded and at the mercy of an organized mafia in a region of Naples, Italy. The streets, the roadsides and the dumps are full of waste, and tons of garbage are illegally buried every year. In this environmental disaster, specialized gendarmes are looking for the criminals responsible and trying to stop this phenomenon, while the resident citizens are the main victims of this crime against the environment. Director: Brando Baranzelli

New recruits receive their famas training.

Mike is admitted to a secure centre for minors by his own family as jail prevention.

After spending over a month in the unforgiving and hostile Guyanese jungle, we observed the Foreign Legion's elite undergoing rigorous and demanding training that tested their physical and mental capabilities to the limit. 00:00 The stretcher test 7:30 Mastering the Amazon 9:49 Scorpion tityus obscurus 13:07 Taming the river 16:33 Bivouac in the jungle 20:21 Radical solution to get rid of ants 23:28 The Liane track 26:33 Hunt at night for food 38:03 Challenge: Jump into the river 44:40 The test of survival Director: Frederic Cristea

This documentary explores the effects of climate change in Nepal's Solukhumbu district, which is home to numerous glaciers and lakes. As temperatures rise, the glaciers are rapidly receding, leading to the formation of new lakes. These lakes are a potential danger to the inhabitants, as they could overflow and cause catastrophic destruction. The article highlights the urgent need to address the effects of climate change in Nepal.

Jerash was founded during the Hellenistic period by veterans from Alexander the Great’s army. In 63 B.C., the city felt o Rome and became one of the most important cities in the Roman Empire. A large number of monuments survive. Director: Jacques Vichet

The Chinese discovered paid holidays only fifteen years ago. Today, they are 400 million to take advantage of these two precious weeks, which they call “the golden weeks”. Far from Western standards, in China, owning a motorhome is the height of luxury. And on the beaches, the latest fashionable accessory is a balaclava, which protects the face of vacationers from the sun. In Hainan, an island located in the south of the country, Wang Dafu, a 45-year-old billionaire, has created housing complexes and marinas for the new rich. But for Chinese who dream of traveling abroad, Paris remains the destination of choice. Director: Clémentine Marcoz

A group of friends enjoying a weekend in the woods play a game of "Dead Mary" and summon an evil witch who begins possessing them one by one.

Throughout WW2 Great Britain faced the threat of invasion, and for a time stood alone, as Europe fell to Adolf Hitler's advancing Nazi bid for world domination. British people experienced the Blackout, the Blitz and Rationing. Follow the progress of the war from the first skirmishes through to the major battles, and with archive footage enjoy a rare glimpse of the British nation at war. Follow us on social media : Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/BestDocumentaryTV

The enigma of Vincent Van Gogh, 125 years after his death, is explored through an extraordinary contemporary play that was first written and performed by the late actor Leonard Nimoy in the 1970s, and brought to life by a talented French actor named Jean-Michel Richaud. The documentary team follows in Van Gogh's footsteps in the south of France, where he painted most of his masterpieces, in Belgium, where he was a preacher to coal miners, and in Holland, where he is born. Countless historians, including the Musée d'Orsay and the Van Gogh Museum, and others have been filmed discussing the master painter in an effort to dispel myths about this mysterious man who has almost always been cataloged as crazy artist. Van Gogh's legacy lives on as the film explores the world of street artists in Amsterdam and Los Angeles who, inspired by the great master, publicly recognize Van Gogh's genius. Among these renowned artists is NOWART, a Parisian street artist whom we filmed launching his own Van Gogh exhibition in Auvers-sur-Oise, the town where Vincent last lived. The play provides an invaluable service in framing the film, and its creator, Leonard Nimoy, helped narrate the play before his death. Leonard Nimoy was a renaissance man in every sense of the word, as a writer, actor, director, artist and, above all, as a humanist. We pay homage to this documentary in memory of this extraordinary man who was so interested in the life of Van Gogh and who took so much care to honor the legacy of this artist. Director: Stéphane Gauger Cast : Leonard Nimoy, Jean-Michel Richaud

Between January 7 and 9, 2015, France experienced horror. Behind the shock, questions. Does France have the financial means to fight, whether to protect us with Vigipirate, or to monitor and track on our territory? And it has considerable financial means. How is this organization funded? How did it manage to multiply its sources of profit? How does his marketing allow him to constantly recruit new fighters in the West? Director: Eric Declemy & Emmanuel Creutzer

Iceland, situated near the Arctic Circle, is a captivating island where a resilient and distinctive community lives out their purest aspirations. The people here are imbued with a genuine sincerity that radiates from within. Being acutely aware of the unyielding power of nature that surrounds them, they have learned to live humbly and rely solely on its bounties. The raw and unfiltered forces of the Earth are omnipresent here, imbuing the Icelanders with a sense of freedom and self-sufficiency that is truly unique. Director: Scott Schneider

The Aztecs, or Mexicas (from their capital city’s name, Mexico-Tenochtitlan) settled around the beginning of the 14th century. Built between the 1st and 7th centuries, Teotihuacan is characterized by the massive dimensions of its monuments, the most famous of which are the temple of Quetzalcoatl and the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon. The name of the site, which means “place inhabited by the gods,” was given by the Aztecs, who considered this city a sacred place, even if it had been abandoned for several centuries when their civilization began to develop it. Teotihuacan, one of the most powerful centers of Meso-American culture, imposed their cultural and artistic elan over the entire region, and even beyond its borders. In the 16th century, the Aztec Empire had a flourishing economy, represented by the wealth of its capital city, Tenochtitlan, the current Mexico-city. Human sacrifice was a common and essential ritual. It held multiple political and religious functions. Human sacrifice was considered necessary to the well-being and balance of the cosmos. On the 18th of February 1519, the conquistador Hernan Cortez lands on the Yucatan coasts. At first considered a superhuman by the Aztecs, he is given priceless gifts. Historians speak of solid gold bracelets, a crocodile’s head made of solid gold, and bird sculptures made of feathers and precious stones. After this first peaceful meeting, the Spanish triggers hostilities. Grouping rival tribes, he planned out the invasion. The death of their sovereign in June 1520 and massacres fired up Aztec upheaval. In spite of one defeat during the “noche triste”, the invaders definitively crushed this civilisation on the 13th of August 1521, leaving their capital city in ruins. Director: Jacques Vichet

Tattoo culture has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, captivating people all around the globe. The industry has flourished, attracting a passionate community of both tattoo enthusiasts and skilled artists. From bustling cities like Tokyo and L.A. to the fashion capital of Paris, tattoos have become a widespread social phenomenon, appealing to everyone from gangsters to incarcerated individuals.

Meet Chinstrap, Macaroni, Adelie, Gentoo, King and... Queen. Spend a year with them in the icy waters or on the volcanic islands of the vast Southern Ocean. Do not fall from the cliff when you leave in the morning and always be certain to catch the right wave on your return home before sunset. Watch out your “friends” who are always ready to push you off the iceberg. On rocky outcrops, always keep your distances with your neighbour, at least 2 feet. Meet your partner this evening, as it is your turn to take care of your fat feathered kids for the next 15 days. Most important of all: if you want to see your family again, avoid all welcoming committees of Fur Seals and departure festivities of Leopard Seals. Awards: International Wildlife Festival Missoula, USA - 2005 Finalist Award and Merit Award for Educational Value Producers : Saint Thomas Productions, ARTE Directors : Cyril Barbançon Follow us on social media : Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/BestDocumentaryTV

The Incas did not leave any written word. The only testimony comes from the first conquistadores who collected the natives’ tales. Successors, among others, to brilliant civilisations preceding them, the Incas were originally a small tribe from the Quechua region on the bank of Lake Titicaca, between Peru and Bolivia. They are part of a confederation of several groups, occupying at first a subordinate rank. The confederation relied on two clans, the Hanan detaining political power, and the Hurin, the military power of which the Incas were part of. This shared power explains the Inca group’s rise to power by force. It is only in during the mid-14th century that the Incas create a state bearing their name. Cuzco was the Inca capital for a long time, being the crossroads of the trans-Andean economical axis. It died down when economical activity turned towards Lima. Machu Pichu is the ancient Inca city, dating back to the 15th century, perched on a rocky headland on the eastern central Andes. Listed since 1983 on the UNESCO’s world heritage sites, it is also one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Looking at the Incas’ daily lives, their rites and religious cults, we will explore the mystery and legends of this lost civilisation. Why human sacrifices, why gold is the Inca’s symbolic metal, why worship the Sun? In this documentary we will attempt to solve these questions, with the help of experts on Latin America: Jean-Francois Bouchard, Patrice Lecoq and Carmen Bernand. 2015 / 52 minutes HD (this documentary is subtitled) Directed by Jacques VICHET

In a remote fjord in Spitzberg, filmmaker Jerome BOUVIER spent a year following the incredible destiny of a polar bear family in a rapidly changing environment. Get up close and personal with one of the most powerful beasts on Earth. Producers: Saint Thomas Productions, France 2 Director: Jerome Bouvier

Burma is not only fascinating because of its very rich history, but also its atmosphere, aromas and hospitality. Occupied by the Mons, the Burmans and the British, Burma has known multiple cultures. T he city of Bagan, “the land of golden roofs,” is a jewel of Burma. It is a testament to the past grandeur of the kings of Bagan who reigned over the first Burman empire. There are monuments of Sri Lankan, Indian, Tibetan, Mon and Burman influence... This majestic Buddhist archaeological site, comparable to Angkor in neighboring Cambodia, is home to more that 2,000 temples, stupas and pagodas, built between the 11th and 13th centuries and spread across 40 km2. It is the largest concentration of Buddhist monuments in the world. After having gone through the Sarabha Gate, a estige of the 9th century, you can admire a view of the entire old city from the top of the ThatbyinnyuPahto Temple: at 63 meters high it is the tallest monument in Bagan. The construction of the Shwezigon Pagoda was begun in 1059 by King Anawrahta to shelter a jawbone and tooth of Buddha that he had obtained after his campaign against the Dali kingdom (in what is now Yunnan). It was finished under the reign of his son Kyansittha in 1102: inside the complex there is a stone pillar that has inscriptions about the King. The Ananda Temple is one of the most beautiful Buddhist monuments in Bagan. Built by King Kyansittha in 1091, it was originally dedicated to the “infinite wisdom” of the Buddha (anantapinya). According to Legend, Kyansittha had been inspired by the description that monks from India gave of their temple, which would explain the Ananda's Indian architectural features. The Wetkyi Inn Gubyaukgyi Temple houses lovely frescos depicting scenes from the Jataka. The stairs inside lead to four Buddha images and the Hindu sculptures carved on the spire. The Htilominlo Temple, famous for its fine stucco ornaments, was built between 1211 and 1218 by King Htilominlo (or Nandaungmya) to commemorate the fact that a parasol (a symbol of power) tilted towards him him during his enthronement. On the second floor, four buddhas have their backs to the central pillar, facing in the four directions. Directed by Jacques VICHET

This incredible discovery provides a new understanding of the behavior of the Giant Oarfish, and a chance to observe this mythical creature in its natural habitat. Direction: Bertrand Loyer Production: Saint Thomas Productions for ARTE France

This program offers a unique and adventurous way to explore the hidden and mysterious underground world of Paris. The visit includes a tour through the underground quarries, followed by a visit to the catacombs, where visitors can witness the romantic-macabre decor. After a mandatory passage through the sewers, the tour concludes with a visit to the incredible bunker hidden under the Gare de l'Est. The visit is led by passionate connoisseurs, making it a fun and exciting way to explore the lesser-known curiosities of Paris.

Illegal gold mining in French Guiana is causing widespread environmental damage and health risks as hundreds of tons of toxic mercury are released into the ground and waterways each year. This activity has also led to rapid deforestation. To combat the issue, the French army has destroyed over 30,000 camps and deployed more than a thousand soldiers and gendarmes to crack down on the illegal practices of clandestine gold panners. However, this mission has already resulted in several fatalities. Director: Frédéric Cristea