A mysterious Amazonian medicine reputed to unlock emotional memory; boomerang kids who keep returning to the family nest; a stunning archaeological discovery; and more—all airing in November on CBC-TV’s The Nature of Things and Doc Zone
CBC Television is the place to go for the most stimulating, thought-provoking and original documentaries on television, as the network’s November’s offerings on THE NATURE OF THINGS and DOC ZONE continue to show.
Canada’s longest-running, multi-award-winning documentary series THE NATURE OF THINGS WITH DAVID SUZUKI continues its 51st Season of exciting television programs on Thursday, Nov. 10, at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT), with the airing of The Jungle Prescription. The film tells the remarkable story of two doctors, Canadian Dr. Gabor Maté and French doctor Jacques Mabit. A resident doctor treating lifelong addicts in Vancouver, Maté hears of an ancient Amazonian medicine called ayahuasca, or “the vine of the souls”, used by Dr. Mabit to treat local addicts.
Traveling to Mabit’s jungle clinic, Maté witnesses the effects of ayahuasca use first-hand: it’s a visionary formula that unlocks emotional memory, causing life-changing catharsis in those who drink it. Mabit reports success rates for curing addicts at the Peruvian detox centre that quadruple the average. So could this treatment work in Canada, Maté wonders? Returning to Vancouver, he sets up an underground experimental program in which addicts are served a bitter tea made from ayahuasca. But without a detox centre or support structure for his patients, will it work? The Jungle Prescription is directed by Mark Ellam for Toronto’s Nomad Films Inc.
Immediately following The Jungle Prescription,CBC-TV’s DOC ZONE, at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT), presents Generation Boomerang, which picks up where filmmakers Maria LeRose, Sharon Bartlett and Sue Ridout’s last documentary for CBC, Hyper Parents & Coddled Kids, left off. Recent statistics reveal that over half of young Canadians between 20 and 29 still live with their parents. That’s double what it was 25 years ago—and it’s happening all over the Western world. Our cameras travel to Italy where they’re known as bambocionni—big babies; and to the U.K. where they’re called yuckies—young, unwittingly costly kids.
Generation Boomerang examines the reasons for this failure to launch—bad economic times, high levels of student debt and poor job prospects. But some maintain tough times are not to blame—they say the kids just aren’t tough enough. Weaving together compelling personal stories with expert analysis, Generation Boomerang asks, is this trend a new life stage, or is it creating a generation of Peter Pans who will never grow up? Produced by Vancouver’s Dreamfilm Productions.
The following Thursday, Nov. 17, at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT), THE NATURE OF THINGS presents the PTV Productions Inc/Films A Trois film The Emperor’s Lost Harbour,the story of an archaeological sensation. In the heart of Istanbul, Turkey, a city of 15 million people, workers building a railway tunnel 60 meters below the surface made a remarkable discovery: the ancient harbour of Theodosius, the last ruler over both Eastern and Western portions of a unified Roman Empire. His harbour has been buried and shrouded in mystery for over 800 years…until now.
Situated exactly between Europe and Asia, Istanbul is situated on an Anatolian fault and the region frequently suffers from tremors. Could it have been an earthquake, or perhaps a tsunami, that wiped out this incredible Byzantine harbour? Archaeologists have uncovered a treasure trove of amazing artifacts dating from the seventh to the 11th centuries, including 32 watercraft, four naval galleries, more than 170 gold coins, hundreds of clay, ivory, bronze, wooden and porcelain objects—even bones of camels, bears, ostriches, elephants, lions….and human skulls. The Emperor’s Lost Harbour is a contemporary story of discovery and mystery. This Canadian-French venture is directed by Hannes Schuler (Hitler’s Museum).
Drinking alcohol on a cold day warms you up. Eating grilled meat can increase your risk of cancer. Mosquitoes prefer women. We’ve all heard them, but are they true? In Myth or Science?, Thursday, Nov. 24, at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT), on THE NATURE OF THINGS, molecular biologist Dr. Jennifer Gardy travels from Winnipeg to Florida, and from New York City to Vancouver, in search of the answers.This revealing documentary takes a journey through the misunderstandings, misconceptions and downright lies that fill our headlines and dictate our lives to discover the truth: myth or science. The answers are often surprising—and could be life-changing. Myth or Science? is directed by Jeff Semple and produced by Dugald Maudsley for Infield Fly Productions.
Information about the four-part DOC ZONE series Love, Hate & Propaganda: The Cold War will follow next week. It airs Nov. 17 and 24, Dec. 1 and 8.
THE NATURE OF THINGS WITH DAVID SUZUKI airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC-TV, as well as Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT and Sundays at 6 p.m. ET on CBC News Network. For complete program information, please visit www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/.
DOC ZONE airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT) and Saturdays at 1 p.m. on CBC-TV, as well as Fridays at 10 p.m. ET/PT and Sundays at 5 p.m. ET on CBC News Network. For program information, please visit www.cbc.ca/doczone.
About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, Internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages, plus seven languages for international audiences. In 2011, CBC/Radio-Canada is celebrating 75 years of serving Canadians and being at the centre of the democratic, social and cultural life of Canada.
For more information or to request a screener, please contact:
Melissa Prince, Veritas Communications
P) 416.482.2669
C) 416.704.8733
prince@veritascanada.com
