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THE GREAT WALL

LA GRANDE MURAILLE

By Michel NOLL, Wenqing ZHANG

ICTV / ECRANS DES MONDES - as PROD

Documentary - Completed 2014

Trail of Discovery and Mirror of China’s History

- Year of production
- 2014
- Genres
- Documentary
- Countries
- FRANCE, CHINA
- Languages
- ENGLISH, FRENCH
- Budget
- 1 - 3 M$
- Duration
- 100 mn
- Director(s)
- Michel NOLL, Wenqing ZHANG
- Writer(s)
- Michel NOLL
- Producer(s)
- Michel NOLL (Quartier Latin Media), Wenging ZHANG (China Shaanxi TV)
- Synopsis
- Τhe Great Wall of China, even if it is NOT visible from the Moon, as is often proclaimed, is still the most important architectural site ever built by Man. First intended as a strategic defence wall against violent attacks by nomadic Mongols, it effectively unified an Empire of gigantic proportions. In its hey days, it was close to 6000 kilometres long. Although today only about 20% of it is in its original form, it remains a fabulous witness to the Empire’s History. Through this compelling documentary with breathtaking aerial photography, the viewer encounters folk of China’s Northern provinces, where the Wall is located. They are quite different from ordinary Chinese citizens. We’ll meet these Northern men and women, whether Buddhists, Taoists or Muslims, whose fate is intimately linked to this timeless landmark. Rarely filmed, they are proud of their unusual and sometimes curious but always surprising customs and traditions. In the first part of the film, we learn about the first Emperor, Qin Shihuandi, founder of the Empire. We’ll look at its origin, always through the eyes of passionate Chinese citizens. After, we’ll be with those who represent the eternal China, with their traditional life-styles and edgy outlook on today’s world. Finally, we will look at the place the Wall fills today in China’s consciousness, and how its memory is relevant to contemporary Chinese people.