Indigènes Productions’ latest captivating documentary dives into the 2,000 year history of the country you thought you knew in ways you’ve never imagined.

Borders are more than just lines on a map – they are the ever-changing crossroads of history, culture, and identity. And History isn’t just about dates and battles, it is about the people, places, and stories that shape who we are. That’s the promise of Aux Frontières de l’Histoire, an ambitious two-part primetime documentary airing on December 25 at 21:05 on France 5. With breathtaking visuals and immersive storytelling, this film takes you on a journey through two millennia of France’s existence, from its tumultuous beginnings to the modern nation it is today.

The southern shores of the English Channel and the northern reaches of the Mediterranean, the dunes of the West to the Alps in the East, the plains and peaks of Central France, and the tropical paradise islands overseas… France is one of the world’s most geographically diverse countries. But its cultural diversity is even more astounding. How did a land of Gauls, Celts, and feudal lords become a unified nation? Why do Bretons and Basques, Alsatians and Parisians, Corsicans and Guadeloupians share a language and a passport, yet fiercely hold on to their distinct identities? On a quest for answers, this film reveals the rich tapestry of culture and history that makes France so unique.

History is boring, you say? Not when Indigènes Productions tells it. With animated cartography as its backbone, the CGI-animated story paints rich tableaux vivants of the great events and figures that have shaped French heritage. It shows how geography and politics have intertwined over centuries on the long and not always easy road to a shared national identity.

Two episodes. Two millennia. A nation forged through change.

Two hours cannot possibly cover every aspect of France’s history, but this film deserves praise for boldly tackling the monumental challenge of condensing it into a cohesive narrative – a feat rarely attempted in the world of documentaries due to its sheer complexity. By focusing on the evolution of borders, it pinpoints key milestones and conveys the cultural legacy of the past helps us better understand the unique French character today.

Episode 1: “From the Gauls to the Hundred Years’ War”

Here, we visit “France before France,” when the land was a mosaic of Celtic and Gallic tribes, Roman rule, and feudal factions. Pivotal moments, from the founding of Lutetia (modern day Paris) to the Middle Ages, are woven together into an epic story arc narrated with lucidity and elegance.

We witness historic turning points such as Vercingetorix’s defiance of Rome and the decisive battle of Alésia, the rise of Charlemagne’s empire, and Joan of Arc’s fight to reclaim a fractured kingdom, and we observe how the country gradually takes shape as its borders contract and expand over time on its way to becoming modern day France.

Episode 2: “From the Renaissance to Decolonisation”

This chapter charts the five jam-packed centuries that set France on the path from Renaissance powerhouse to becoming one of Europe’s most influential modern nations. It delves into the opulent royal courts of François I and Louis XIV, the ravages of the plague, the upheavals of the French Revolution, the turbulent Napoleonic era, and the far-reaching effects of two world wars.

Along the way, viewers learn interesting tidbits such as when the famous Tricolore flag was adopted, or hear accounts of WW1 survivors. The story concludes with decolonization – a challenging chapter that still continues to mold today’s French society. Steeped in emotion, each scene captures the triumphs, but also the trials and tribulations of a country always on the go.

A Feast for the Eyes and the Mind

Once again, Fabrice Hourlier taps into his signature style and artistic vision to craft sequences that are as awe-inspiring as they are educational. CGI animations, stop-motion action, aerial shots of historical landmarks, 3D animated maps, and cinematic re-enactments make the past vivid, dynamic, and undeniably relevant. Slow-motion scenes transform historical moments into living art, where the flicker of a torch or the sweep of a sword takes on an almost hypnotic aesthetic. Animated maps act as a time machine, seamlessly connecting centuries of change in a way that feels fluid and natural.

The visual ingenuity is complemented by writer Stéphanie Hauville’s masterful storytelling skills which truly bring historical facts alive through impeccable research, emotions, and the respect that such a grand past deserves.

“This unique perspective offers deeper insight into how our nation was built,” explains director Fabrice Hourlier. “It shows how men and women of the past lived, how feudal territories evolved into regions and departments, how borders were drawn and reshaped, how roads and later railways carved pathways across the land, how our language took root, and how individuals, driven by a vision of their country or its grandeur, transformed it into what it is today.”

Fabrice Hourlier

Hourlier and Hauville, the prolific co-founders of Indigènes Productions, are a well-loved staple on French and European TV screens, known for monumental works like the Napoleon miniseries, their ventures into aviation history (Aile contre aile and La Guerre des As), or their close-up of antiquity (Mégapolis), to name but a few.

A Love Letter to France

At its core, Aux Frontières de l’Histoire is much more than a documentary. It’s a celebration of France’s cultural and historical richness, an invitation to rediscover the forces that forged its people and places. Whether you’re a history buff or simply curious about the world around you, this film offers something rare: a journey that entertains, informs, and inspires. And helps find answers to those timeless questions: Who are we? Where do we come from?

Aux Frontières de l’Histoire – La France
By BANIJAY Studios France & INDIGENES Productions (2023)
France 5, Wednesday, 25 December at 21.05 h (ep. 1) and 21.58 h (ep. 2)
and on replay on France TV

All photos courtesy Indigènes Productions