East Meets West (ep1) trailer: Marco Polo – The China Mystery Revealed with Nat Geo’s Michael Yamashita (MT) (wm)

FESCH.TV INFORMIERT:

For the National Geographic Channel, this groundbreaking film is one of the most popular programs ever broadcast. For one of Nat Geo’s legendary photographers, Michael Yamashita, this is the first of his two globally acclaimed documentaries. And through these films, like never before, viewers can travel back centuries in time, as Nat Geo’s intrepid photojournalist retraces the epic journeys of two of the world’s greatest explorers: Italy’s Marco Polo from the west and China’s Zheng He from the east.

These award-winning programs are the inspiration for the upcoming documentary series, East Meets West, by Farland Chang, and based on the lifetime of work by Michael Yamashita.

These two films about Marco Polo and Zheng He will kick off the series. To learn when, where and how to watch as each new episode premieres, please visit www.eastmeetswestfilm.com, subscribe for updates and join us on social media.

Get ready for the journey of a lifetime!

Episode1: „Marco Polo – The China Mystery Revealed“
with National Geographic’s Michael Yamashita.

SUMMARY1: „MARCO POLO – THE CHINA MYSTERY REVEALED
A major film production commissioned by National Geographic.
700 years ago a young Venetian set out on what was to become one of the most influential journeys ever made. His adventures took him well beyond the boundaries of the known world of Persia to a land that was almost completely unexplored – the mysterious Middle Kingdom.

But ever since he returned there were those who doubted Marco Polo. Did he really see what he described in his legendary book, ‚Description of the World‘ or did he merely describe what others told him.

In this film, Mike Yamashita follows Marco’s book from the lofty heights of the Pamir Mountains to the fabled city of Xanadu in Mongolia. In so doing he attempts to unravel some of the age old mystery: Did Marco Polo really go to China?

Production in Italy: 6 days in Venice, 2 days in Genoa.
Principal photography in China: 35 days, covering over 3,000 km.

SUMMARY2: MARCO POLO
Perhaps no land journey in human history is more famous than Marco Polo’s legendary 24 year trek across Asia. But was it all just a big lie? As described in his 1299 book, the peripatetic Venetian merchant encountered such wonders as the “singing sand dunes” of Dunhuang, China, “mountains of salt” in present-day Afghanistan, and the glories of the Mongol court of Kublai Khan. Generations of Europeans were spellbound by Polo’s account, yet in recent years some scholars have questioned its authenticity. For an extensive three part series in National Geographic, Yamashita tested the famed Venetian’s reputation – using Polo’s own book as his travel guide.

Shot on 16 mm film.
Initial airing on National Geographic Channel Asia.
Exclusively sponsored by Cathay Pacific, including on-air, on-ground, and online contest elements.
Asian TV Awards: Best Cinematography, Best Original Music Score.