A
DOCUMENTARY FILM PROPOSAL / 2 PART SERIES 52 min.
each
This
film will describe the relationship of culture, civilization and history
through science. Kevin Kling had the privilege to accompany several French-Chinese
Geological Expeditions across the biggest earthquake fault on the planet
in one of the most remote & inaccessible parts of Western China. Her
journey follows the path blazed by ancient caravans who carried luxuries
over thousands of miles, hundreds of years.
As
the scientists investigate the landscape, one can understand how life began
here, and why it continues to flourish in such a forbidding space. We will
witness through their perspective, their daily explorations as they struggle
to achieve theirobjective.....to
reach, to measure,and to date an active fault which is constantly redesigning
the landscape of Asia due to giant Magnitude 8 earthquakes, the traces of
which can be seen for centuries as permanent scars across hills and valleys.
Nowhere
on the continents of the Earth, have the forces of Nature contributed so much
to shape the environment so fast.
The
Kun-Lun Mountains are rising 50 centimeters per century while the debris eroded
from them pile up in the Taklamakan,
trapping
vast reservoirs of natural gas and oil. To the south, Tibet is chased away
at the rate of 2 centimeters per year along the Altyn Tagh Fault.
A
powerful interaction between relief and climate, orchestrated by the glacial
ages, has led to the rise and fall of vast lakes in the desert. Today fierce
winds, driven by the tremendous Tibet Plateau Monsoon weather "machine"
("Karaburans") are strong enough to lift stones!
Illuminating
the geological facet of our story, is
the parallel story of the
Uygurs,
descendants
of the original inhabitants of the Taklamakan Desert. Thanks to the traditions
they have carried and passed on from generation to generation, the secrets
of their ancestors; silk-making, carving & trading jade, the elaborate
creation of wool & felt carpets, can be witnessed today. As author
of this film, Kevin Kling spent many months living with the Uygurs, and captured
a wealth of detailed and intimate footage to convey not only the methods,
but the joy and the rhythm of their lives.
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