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A journey over the seasons to discover the impassive and mysterious giant panda, in the heart of its natural environment. This series, filmed over 4 years, invites us to share the daily life of two panda families, from birth to adulthood. Up close, the black and white ursid is revealed as never before, in its most complete intimacy.
Director
Writer
Status
Released
Original Language
FR

Roughly chronological, from 3/96 to 11/96, with a coda in spring of 1997: inside compounds of Aum Shinrikyo, a Buddhist sect led by Shoko Asahara. (Members confessed to a murderous sarin attack in the Tokyo subway in 1995.) We see what they eat, where they sleep, and how they respond to media scrutiny, on-going trials, the shrinking of their fortunes, and the criticism of society. Central focus is placed on Hiroshi Araki, a young man who finds himself elevated to chief spokesman for Aum after its leaders are arrested. Araki faces extreme hostility from the Japanese public, who find it hard to believe that most followers of the cult had no idea of the attacks and even harder to understand why these followers remain devoted to the religion, if not the violence.

A military contractor hired to seize a weapon that turns people into savage killers seeks revenge when his brother falls victim to the device.