ARTE Distribution

This exceptional documentary series gives the keys to understanding the historical, geographical and political situation in Palestine, thanks to never-before-seen archives and interviews with experts from around the world and the people facing the reality of what it is like to live on Palestinian territory. A land that is both an international ticking time bomb and the most disputed territory in contemporary history.

In his book De quoi la Palestine est-elle le nom ? journalist and Middle East specialist Alain Gresh looks at the place of Palestine in colonial history and in colonization. This is, without a doubt, the last great unresolved colonial question. Throughout the world, Palestine embodies a long-standing, divisive conflict, stirring emotions and irreconcilable oppositions. While Jewish Zionism is one element of this (hi)story, it alone cannot explain the destiny of Palestine and the fate of the Palestinians, just as the creation of the State of Israel in 1948 alone cannot embody the prologue to their national narrative.
 
So, how has the Palestinian identity been forged over the course of history, from ancient times to the present day, this sense of belonging to a people and a nation firmly rooted in what is undoubtedly the most disputed land in the world? A passionate subject par excellence, Palestine has been at the center of international and even national news for over 75 years. The issue affects everyone, mixing religion, archeology and history, ideology, racism, anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism.
 
From the Ottoman conquest to the British occupation, from the creation of the State of Israel to the 1948 Nakba (Arabic: ‘the catastrophe’), from the Israeli-Arab wars to the Oslo Accords and their subsequent failure, from the colonization of the West Bank to the bloody attacks of October 7, 2023 and the destruction of Gaza, the history of Palestine is an international ticking time bomb: that of the most disputed territory in our contemporary history.
 
So how do we tell the (hi)story of Palestine and its people?
 
By going back to basics and retracing the steps involved in building an identity and becoming aware of belonging to a people, a nation. Although the term ‘Palestine’ has a geographical meaning, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, independently of the national identities of the peoples living there, it also has a political meaning defined by an essentially Arabic-speaking and predominantly Muslim national community. It makes no sense to mix up the two.

The promise of space colonization fuels illusions that keep us distracted from the fact that we’re killing our planet. Scientists, activists, and Indigenous voices challenge this vision, questioning whether multi-planetary dreams are real progress—or just dangerous myths serving powerful interests.

By the end of the century, humanity will become an interplanetary civilization, with millions living in autonomous colonies on the Moon, Mars, and massive orbiting space stations, while pioneers journey toward distant stars. Once pure science fiction, these ambitions are now promoted by wealthy entrepreneurs, governments, and powerful networks who see space as both humanity’s next frontier and a lucrative solution to Earth’s limited resources. This vision fuels the booming “New Space” industry, driven by dreams of astronomical profits and fears about our planet’s future.
But for a growing number of space professionals, these projects are nothing more than dangerous illusions. Human biology is deeply tied to Earth’s atmosphere, gravity, and magnetic field, while space remains a hostile and deadly environment. Even in the face of climate catastrophe, overpopulation, and resource depletion, Earth is far more hospitable than any other place in the solar system. There is no Planet B, they insist. Instead of chasing fantasies of distant colonization, humanity should focus on making Earth livable again.
Yet in pursuit of these illusions, the New Space industry contributes to its own doomsday narratives by damaging the atmosphere, disrupting astronomy with satellite pollution, and threatening ecosystems and communities near launch sites.
Resistance is growing. Activists, astronomers, and scientists are working to reframe space exploration within a broader cultural, ecological, and scientific context, and to remind us that, ultimately, we are just a tiny speck in the vast universe whose survival depends on caring for the one fragile planet we already call home.
 

Everywhere in the plains and mountains of central Italy, in Umbria, the spirit of St. Francis is felt. First and foremost in his hometown of Assisi, crowned by the immense basilica named after him. But not only there. On forest trails and in austere hermitages scattered throughout the greenery, some of his followers remain more faithfully connected to his teachings. When Francis was born, around 1181, Assisi was a small mountain village. Tormented by an urgent need to find his path, Saint Francis came here to gather his strength. It was a countryside conducive to solitary meditation.

Oliver Stone is the guilty conscience of an America he never hesitates to expose. The director of Platoon, Wall Street, Born on the Fourth of July, JFK, and Natural Born Killers sees cinema as a quest for truth bordering on obsession, shaped by two major traumas that have forever marked America: the Vietnam War and the assassination of Kennedy.

There are nearly four chickens for every one of us on the planet. But the world’s most recognizable bird is also the most mysterious one. Cluck! Chickens Exposed reveals chickens are capable of remarkable intelligence, have super sensory powers and create drama that rivals the most compelling reality shows.

A flock of memorable characters reveals the physiological prowess of everyday chickens, from amazing vision that enables them to find food and spot predators, to dramatic fights they engage in to rule the roost. Meanwhile, scientists in Canada use AI to analyze chicken “language” and understand what the birds are talking about, German researchers use mirrors to demonstrate chickens exhibit signs of self-awareness and a British paleontologist tackles the age-old riddle, “What came first, the chicken or the egg?” The film is an entertaining romp through Chickenland, combining breathtaking cinematography, innovative filmmaking techniques and creative storytelling.

Our desire to celebrate is often linked to our relationship with the cosmos and nature. Since time immemorial, the key moments of the agricultural year have been celebrated, just as those of the lunar or solar calendar. People celebrate to implore and thank Nature, to celebrate fertility, the return of the stars, life, and thus ward off death. These are the festivals of sowing, the solstices, and the harvests… 

At the heart of Krakow lies Stary Kleparz, a vibrant market offering a rich variety of traditional southern Polish foods. From chef’s bigos cooked right on the spot to handmade pierogi, the market is a flavorful entry point to the region’s culinary heritage. We travel through Lesser Poland to discover the smoky oscypek cheese, lavender vinegar, sausages, and a rare trout breed, before returning to the city for a taste of obwarzanek and pączki — the city’s famous bread ring and the sweet fried dough. Krakow’s market bridges past and present, field and feast.

Stary Kleparz, Krakow’s oldest food market, is a buzzing crossroad of local tradition and flavors. It’s here that Bartosz stirs his pot of steaming bigos — a rich stew of cabbage and meats — for customers strolling among colorful stalls. Maria folds the pierogi by hand, keeping alive a recipe passed down through generations. But the story of Krakow’s food doesn’t end in the city.
We head south toward the Podhale region, nestled in the Carpathians near the Tatra Mountains. There, shepherd Krysztof tends his flock and crafts oscypek, a traditional smoked goat’s milk cheese, following age-old methods. Anna and Michał harvest fields of lavender to transform into a fragrant culinary vinegar, while in Piaski Wielkie, Szczepan shares his time-honored technique for smoking sausages — a process that gives each bite its distinctive flavor. Nearby, in the Ojców National Park, Agnieszka and her mother raise and smoke trout in the cool mountain waters, and on Irena’s farm, plums are dried and smoked on woodfire to create a uniquely Polish delicacy.
Back in Krakow, the streets are alive with the scent of obwarzanek — the iconic, sesame-topped bread rings baked in Krzysztof’s oven and sold warm from city stalls. For those with a sweet tooth, there are pączki — fried dough delights filled with jam and sugar, the true ancestors of the American donut. Krakow’s food scene is a living mosaic of seasonal ingredients, historical recipes, and passionate people who keep traditions alive, both in the city and across the countryside.

Palestine, a region known since ancient times, was never a land without people. A land of three holy sites, it is a sanctuary for 75% of humanity, through which countless peoples and ethnic groups have passed, leaving their mark. A rich and fertile land ruled by great families. Long under Ottoman rule, Palestine had to face the ambitions of the Russian and Austro-Hungarian Empires, French and British colonialism, and the Zionist project, until this small territory eventually lost its name.