In Europe
Season 3
Writer Geert Mak travels around Europe to visit the places where history was made. He speaks with eye witnesses, relatives and experts. One hundred years of European history in 35 episodes.
Where to Watch Season 3
20 Episodes
- The pilot who jumped out of a plane
E1Episode 1The pilot who jumped out of a planeWhat does the hijacking of a French aircraft in 1994 have to do with the attack on the Twin Towers in 2001? Could 9/11 have been predicted if we had paid better attention? A search for the omens and the impact of terror by Muslim extremists. - Banker behind bars
E3Episode 3Banker behind barsWas the misery caused by cowboy capitalism in 2008 foreseeable? Icelandic bankers dragged European savers and their fellow islanders into their downfall. The Icelanders didn't accept it. They were the only country in the world to send the bankers to jail. - The Love Bridge
E5Episode 5The Love BridgeWhile everyone is looking at Hungary and Poland, Denmark has taken a path of populism and protectionism much earlier. Even the Social Democrats, who saw their supporters shrink, support anti-migration policies. And this policy also has repercussions on Danes with a non-Western background. How did it get so far in Denmark? - On the right side of history
E7Episode 7On the right side of historyPoland has only been a truly independent modern democracy for about thirty years. In search of their own identity, many Poles are seeking guidance in a black-and-white picture of their history. After all, Poles were always heroes or victims. Anyone who wants to add nuance to this image must feel strong in their position. - The cricket and the ant
E8Episode 8The cricket and the antIn 2017 Jeroen Dijsselbloem managed to take on the anger of the Southern European countries with one remark. What is true about his stereotyping of the southerner? Comedian Nuno Duarte investigates the Portuguese psyche. Portugal's economy is growing like cabbage. It is the only European country that is actively bringing in refugees. Because so many Portuguese have sought refuge abroad during the crisis, it could make good use of the labour force. But if things are going so well, why don't refugees and residents want to stay? Furthermore, a portrait of a first Syrian refugee family that was personally brought to Portugal. And a portrait of two friendly nurses. One decided to stay, the other left for England and became nurse of the year in no time. How do they look to the future of this country that was hit hard by the 2008 crisis and now miraculously seems to be recovering? - Laws of the sea
E9Episode 9Laws of the seaAt one time, boat refugees in distress were helped and received hospitably on the European mainland. Those times are over. Now, thanks to European money, the Libyan coastguard plays gatekeeper on the Mediterranean Sea and deliberately causes people to drown. Captains who do lend a helping hand are regularly taken to court for human smuggling. In this episode Captain Stefan Schmidt, who was arrested in 2004 to his astonishment when he tried to dock in Italy with 37 African drowners. At the time, Abdul Aziz was one of 37 migrants who had saved Captain Schmidt from drowning. Abdul's European adventure disappointed him so much that he now, back in Ghana, visits schools to imprint children that they should stay at home. And Pia Klemp, a young captain of rescue organization Sea Watch, who did not shy away from a strong confrontation with the Libyan coastguard, but is now forced to stay at home. She is facing twenty years in prison for helping her with illegal migration. - Dansing bears
E10Episode 10Dansing bearsLiberated dancing bears dancing for food, a metaphor for how many people died after the fall of communism? After Bulgaria's accession to the EU in 2007, the old tradition of keeping dancing bears was banned by law. The bears went to a brand new bear park, but were not happy with their freedom. They kept dancing in front of the visitors, hoping for a piece of bread. The Polish writer Witold Szablowski saw in the fate of the bears a metaphor for how many people died after the fall of communism. And Roman Janiszak used to be a proud Polish miner. Since the closing of the mines in the nineties he had little left but a longing for the past. The money that Radi, an old Bulgarian bear tamer, got for his bear was quickly depleted. Now he misses the beast. His wife has died, his five children have gone abroad, his grandchildren don't speak his language.
