Discovery Atlas
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| Discovery Atlas | |
|---|---|
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| Genre | Documentary |
| Narrated by | Various people |
| Opening theme | "Discovery Atlas" theme |
| Country of origin | Worldwide (Discovery Channel countries) |
| No. of episodes | 4 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 100 minutes (approx.) |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Discovery Channel |
| Picture format | HDTV |
| Original run | October 1, 2006 – present |
| Links | |
| Official website | |
| TV.com summary | |
Discovery Atlas is a documentary television series on the Discovery Channel and Discovery HD Theater which focuses on the cultural, sociological, and natural aspects of various countries by exploring their different peoples, traditions, and lands. The documentary follows the lives and individual struggles of locals, while taking in-depth looks at the countries' history and culture. There have been a total of four episodes to air as of yet: the first episode, Discovery Atlas: China Revealed aired October 1, 2006, and was followed by Discovery Atlas: Italy Revealed, Brazil Revealed, and Australia Revealed.
According to the Miami Herald, the series will be shown over five years and focus on a total of 20 countries, with the possibility of more. Four countries will be featured each year. [1] Other sources, including the Australian Discovery Channel and Discovery Communications Inc websites, have said that the series will focus on thirty countries. [2] [3]
Contents |
[edit] Season 1
| # | Airdate | Title | Country | Narrator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 1, 2006 | China Revealed | China | James Spader |
| 2 | October 8, 2006 | Italy Revealed | Italy | Isabella Rossellini |
| 3 | October 15, 2006 | Brazil Revealed | Brazil | Sela Ward |
| 4 | October 22, 2006 | Australia Revealed | Australia | Russell Crowe |
[edit] Future Locations
There has been discussion as to where future episodes may be filmed. France and India seem to be popular among speculaters, especially France, due to the fact that the Eiffel Tower appears in the opening sequence of the show. Other highly rumoured countries include South Africa, Mexico, Egypt and Greece.
[edit] Episode Synopsis
[edit] China Revealed
This episode focused on the rapid development of the People's Republic of China in modern times, and also introduced several Chinese cities (Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong), the improvement of rural communities (Longshen, Taizhou) and the lives of various ordinary Chinese people (a rice farmer, a Shaolin monk and his students, a Mongolian horseman, a gymnast who is an Olympic hopeful, an Imperial bowmaker, an architectural millionaire, a window washer, a woman who feels she needs plastic surgery to succeed, and a policewoman). Traditions of ethnic minorities (Mongolians) were also mentioned. The film uses both exciting western music as well as traditional Chinese music.
[edit] Italy Revealed
Italy Revealed focused on six stories of Italians, including a jockey participating in a traditional palio, to a former fisherman setting a free-diving record off Sicily's coast, to the Missoni family's fashion world and a Venetian gondolier's attempt to keep his family in his native city.
[edit] Brazil Revealed
This episode followed the stories of some of Brazil's citizens, as well as giving insight into the history and culture of the country. Among the people followed include a female soccer player struggling to play in what is considered a man's sport, a helicopter pilot in São Paulo, a rancher taking part in his first rodeo, and a dancer in preparation for Carnival, and others.
[edit] Australia Revealed
This episode revealed the traditions of some of Australia's oldest indigenous populations, as well as the country's modern achievements. Some of the subjects of the documentary include an Aboriginal man trying to follow his ancestors' old ways, a professional swimmer, a jackaroo (or cowhand), and a fence builder working on the continent's longest single fence.
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[edit] Home Video
The initial four episodes were released on Blu-ray and HD-DVD in high-definition on 30th January 2007. Each episode is sold separately and as a 4-disc box set.
