ICTV - The Olive Route (2013) Part 1. 27/03/2013 13:27:39

This Portfolio takes us on an unforgettable journey across the Mediterranean. From the Tuscan hillsides to the plains of Andalusia, from the cobbled streets of Athens to the shores of the Aegean, reaching the coasts of Asia Minor and the minarets of Istanbul, then passing through Palestine and Israel, without forgetting the islands of Sicily and Lesvos. We will discover the secrets of the olive tree, a symbol of life and spirit of peace in these Mediterranean regions since thousands of years. Our modern-day Odyssey takes us to beautiful towns and picturesque villages where ancient sites witness unforgettable rituals, all of which are linked in some way or other to the olive tree, to its culture and its trade. These celebrations represent the essence of its history and way of life and capture the beautiful allure of the Mediterranean Dream. At every stage along this journey, we will look for best olive oils, delicious recipes and unknown details of the Mediterranean diet. But the films will also cover agronomical, ecological and spiritual aspects. And we will bear in mind the symbolic value of the olive branch and the mythology behind it. The narrative of each film is build around a universal theme related to the olive culture and trade, brought to life by passionate characters whose everyday lives we will share and whose fabulous stories we will discover. For the very first time these regions and themes explored are knit together (in full HD) to create a comprehensive mosaic: the Olive Route, rich in detail, colourful in scope and astonishing in meaning. It is not simply a geographical path, but a bridge connecting people socially and passionately, beyond all races, beliefs and origins: it carves out the surprising heritage they have in common, the Olive Route creates a Med identity.

Part 1: In the Olive Kingdom

With close to 300 million trees, Spain's Southern province of Andalusia is the world's uncontested Olive Kingdom. It is here that more olive oil is produced than anywhere else in the world… It is here that tons of waste from olive oil production are turned into electricity… It is here that you can gain a university degree in olive culture… The list of superlatives seems never ending. This time, the Olive Route will reveal to us the secrets of a phenomenally successful olivegrowing industry. We shall meet the Nu'ez de Prado brothers, whose family have been growing olives for seven generations as well Antonio Romero, a worker on an olive farm, for whom the Andalusian olive groves are a paradise on earth. We will see how Periko Ortega of Cordoba, a young Andalusian Chef with a reputation reaching as far as Australia, turns cooking with olive oil into an art form . And with Jos' Gomez, a globally renowned scientist, we will see the dangers that olive monoculture poses for soil erosion, thus demonstrating that economic success often comes at a price. In this sea of olive trees we will also take a trip to the largest olive mill in the world as well as to the most modern biomass power station in Europe. And in Cieza, near Malaga, we will meet Pedro Ramos, a civil guard who in his spare time has become the world champion in olive-stone spitting. Fabulous olive stories about each of the characters in a land where the olive tree is said to be in the DNA of it's people.