The Vagabonds of the Carpathians

Karpaten

Carpazi, nel regno dei vecchi vagabondi

Karpaty: polscy wagabundzi

Les Carpates - Le royaume des vieux vagabonds

Los Cárpatos polacos

In his small apartment in Masuria, Juliusz, 91, dreams of summer. All he wants is to escape to his cabin in the Carpathians, on the shores of Lake Solina, where he lives a simple, rustic life. Krzysztof, at 77, is a youngster by comparison. He came to the forest in 1981 to escape political repression and never left. He believes his life in the countryside is the key to happiness.

Meet the aging hippies who embrace a simple life in the Carpathians, on the shores of Lake Solina

In Peru, every year, the people who live in remote mountain villages gather to build the Inca bridge of Q'eswachaka, a traditional structure of woven grass, and the last of its kind. This ancestral know-how inherited from the Incas, and the enduring spirit of community, enables the villagers to pull off a stunning feat of engineering, time and again.

In Peru, every year, villagers build the Inca bridge of Q'eswachaka from woven grass, and the last of its kind.

The Inca Grass Bridge of Q'eswachaka

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Every spring in Sardinia, locals organise a parade in honor of Sant'Antioco, one of the patron saints of the island. In the churches, altars are decorated with cloths adorned with sea silk. These golden threads were once made from the filaments of the large pen shells, but the species is now critically endangered and with it, the skill of crafting sea silk into precious fabrics.

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The  large pen shells that produce sea silk are critically endangered, as is the ancient art of sea silk embroidery.

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On the shores of Lake Chagan, in the Chinese province of Jilin, fishermen defy temperatures up to -30°C to install their huge nets under the ice. This ancient Mongolian technique allows them to fish tens of tons of fish which are then auctioned and can reach exorbitant sums.

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On the shores of Lake Chagan, in the Chinese province of Jilin, fishermen defy temperatures up to -30°C

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Paris is at the heart of haute couture, of elegant dresses and extravagant silhouettes made entirely by hand by the best artisans. While their skills are a cultural asset in the French DNA, their names and those of their clients are often well-kept secrets. Each of their creations is unique.

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Paris is at the heart of haute couture, where elegant and extravagant dresses are made entirely by hand by the best artisans.

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With the Kalahari, Namib or Etosha, Namibia is rich in protected areas and animal reserves and big cats benefit. There are an estimated 8,000 cheetahs left in the world, of which more than a third live in Namibia. Their population used to be much larger, but drought, poachers and competition with leopards are reducing the population.

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With the Kalahari, Namib or Etosha, Namibia is rich in  animal reserves from which the big cats benefit. 

Cheetahs of Namibia

It’s crunch time: The last afternoon of training as candidates try and impress before the selections.

Day 4: Afternoon

50th Prix de Lausanne

Last day of training as candidates try and impress before the selections.

Day 4: Morning

Human beings evolved in the warm climate of Africa before striking out to live in colder parts of the world. It is testament to our ingenuity as a species that we can now survive in hostile climates. But what if the cold was actually good for us? This documentary explores the science of cold with elite Finnish cold swimmer Elina as she attempts the Polar Ice Mile in arctic Svalbard.

What if the cold was  good for us? This documentary explores the science of cold with elite Finnish cold swimmer Elina as she attempts the Polar Ice Mile in arctic Svalbard.

Into the Cold

During the Second World War, two separate resistance networks, one based in Brussels and then Paris, and the other in Berlin, provided inteligence to the Soviets. This in-depth documentary tells their story and how the Third Reich tried to hunt them down.

During the Second World War, two separate resistance networks provided intelligence to the Soviets. The gestapo called them the Red Orchestra.

The Red Orchestra (1/2)

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Afternoon training focuses on male competitors with coaching.

Day 3: Afternoon

Emberá Chamí live in the Andes Mountains, a region famous for its high quality coffee. Ostracised by conservative Colombian society, the trans women of this ethnic group find refuge on a coffee plantation that enables them to earn a living. among a community of like-minded peers.

The Indigenous Trans Women of the Andes

Ostracised by conservative Colombian society, a group of trans women find refuge on a coffee plantation.

360° Reportage

The 50th edition of the Prix de Lausanne opens with classical and contemporary classes given by Clairemarie Osta, Julio Bocca and Lakey Evans-Peña.

Day 1: Morning

First morning of training for the young contestants of the prestigious dance prize.

The Prix de Lausanne candidates are working hard before the selections on Friday with another day of intensive training.

Day 3: Morning

An intensive morning of classes at the prestigious dance competition.

With all the religious wars, the 17th century was a tense time in Europe. And in art one theme caught everyone’s imagination: the Virgin Mary.

Assumption of the Virgin - Nicolas Poussin

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Russians long considered Armenia an unimportant vassal that could easily be brought back into line if the Kremlin choose to do so. In an ironic twist of fate, it is now this little neighbour that many Russians now turn to for asylum. Russia's youth and well-off middle-class rejects Moscow's politics and fear being drafted into fighting a war they don't believe in. 

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Russia always looked down on Armenia, but now Russian asylum-seekers are turning to Yerevan for help.

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Sven Philipp and Martin Rheinländer run workshops called  “Strengthening Masculinity” to teach men about women, flirting and sex. But critics like Christoph May and Susanne Kaiser warn against these types of workshops, which they say promote toxic male values and old-fashioned ideas. Christoph became so bored and annoyed by his male-dominated environment that he now avoids all-male groups as much as possible. As a researcher, he often gives public lectures, urging men to rethink critically their role in society.

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The pick-up artist industrial complex has come to Germany.

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This first afternoon of training features classical dance with classes led by Elisabeth Platel and Julio Bocca.

Day 1: Afternoon

Training continues at the prestigious international dance competition.

The morning of Day 2 focuses on the youngest competitors and focuses on classical and contemporary dance.

Day 2: Morning

Focus on Classical and contemporary classes on day 2 of the prestigious dance competition.

Tuesday afternoon at the Théâtre de Beaulieu: as the selections approach, the boys and girls of group B are refining their technique.

Day 2: Afternoon

A journey into the heart of the Andes to discover its landscapes and unique wildlife: salt deserts, high grasslands and prehistoric forests are populated by impressive animals like bears, pumas and condors.

Extreme Nature

The Andes

Anti-Turkey protests by Sweden’s Kurdish community put the brakes on Sweden’s NATO membership bid. The EU green lights the sale of some insects as food, paving the way for bugs to leap into European diets. Our cultural pick of the week is a photographer’s tender gaze for her autistic brother.

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Sweden’s bid to join NATO is blocked by Turkey, while insects are creeping onto European menus.

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Spanish viol player Jordi Savall interprets Monteverdi's 7th and 8th book of madrigals, considered to be the composer's musical and aesthetic testament, and among the most beautiful works of Baroque music.

With Jordi Savall

Jordi Savall interprets Monteverdi's 7th and 8th book of madrigals, considered to be the composer's musical and aesthetic testament, and among the most beautiful works of Baroque music.

Madrigali Guerrieri e Amorosi

Since the Elysée Treaty of friendship was signed between France and Germany in January 1962, the two countries have built ever closer ties. In this intimate documentary, individual Germans from both east and west share their experiences of French culture in the post-war era.

In this intimate documentary, individual Germans from both east and west share their experiences of French culture in the post-war era.

The Vagabonds of the Carpathians

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