00:24The Explorers
00:56The Storms
01:05The Storms
01:08The Storms
01:11The Storms
01:23The Storms
01:26The Storms
01:40The Storms
01:40So children, who can tell me when America was discovered and by which explorer?
01:44Do we owe it?
01:47Is it... a colonist?
01:51Of course it's colonial and it holds that idea!
01:54Well, that's not entirely accurate, children!
02:00So what? Nobody has any idea? Come on!
02:11It's the Vikings, of course! The Vikings!
02:13Bravo! Yes, they are indeed the Vikings! But to tell you their story, we first need to
02:18Go back in time!
02:23What did I say? We're going back in time!
02:32Good! That's better!
02:33Our story begins with a Norwegian with a terrible reputation, Eric the Red, a Viking!
02:38You know that between the 9th and 11th centuries, the Vikings terrorized Europe.
02:43Christian!
02:44Going to Iceland, crossing seas, going up rivers and streams, going from Russia to Morocco and beyond!
02:51These adventurers engaged in trade or plunder, depending on the opportunity!
02:56Protect us from these pagans!
02:57They were formidable opponents in the fight!
03:01But to the west or beyond Iceland, it was uncharted territory!
03:05This is where our adventure begins, the adventure of an unusual family, you'll see!
03:09In 964, Eric the Red, banished from Norway for murder, sets off for Iceland!
03:14But when he arrives there, the land is overpopulated and food is scarce!
03:18Once again, his belligerent nature gets him into trouble!
03:21In 982, the Alting, the Icelandic court of judgment, pronounced him Utlagi, banished for three years!
03:28Eric sets sail again, heading ever further west!
03:31We're having a very good wind, Eric, but it's getting colder and colder!
03:34How far are we going to go like this?
03:35Have you ever heard the rumors going around about a piece of land in the west?
03:39More than fifty years ago, a sailor bound for Iceland was caught in a storm
03:43!
03:43And after it drifted westward, it sighted a vast land covered in ice!
03:47Perhaps an island, that's where we're going if our gods will it!
03:51On a large island covered in ice?
03:53Wait and see, my friend!
04:00Oh! Look!
04:12Hang in there, guys, it's going to get tough! Hold on tight!
04:27Meanwhile, life goes on at Eric's farm in Iceland.
04:30The seasons pass, the children grow up.
04:33Frilla, don't forget to clean the inside!
04:39Oh dear, these slaves, you have to tell them everything!
05:08Oh! Sorry!
05:11He's back! He's back! I saw his boat! His boat!
05:16Come! Come! Come all!
05:19Mom, come quickly! Dad's here, he's back!
05:22Eric, come back!
05:33And then afterwards, we came to a huge ice barrier which we went around to the south.
05:37That's where we had to turn a corner.
05:39And on the other side we discovered fertile land.
05:42It was incredible, with game and fish everywhere!
05:46A new country full of food.
05:48Food, yes.
05:51So listen to me, this country that I have called the Green Country will become ours.
05:55We will lack nothing there.
05:57He is waiting for us and I will know how to get back there.
06:00So, who wants to come with me?
06:09Greenland, the Green Country, that's a bit of an exaggeration, isn't it? Don't you think?
06:12Eric was a clever fellow. He knew how to lure in gullible people.
06:15Come on, let's go!
06:16And indeed, nearly 600 people will be leaving with him.
06:27Let's go!
06:31Let's go!
06:34Let's go!
06:48Let's go!
06:54Let's go!
07:04Let's go!
07:06Let's go!
07:19Oh !
07:25Here comes the storm!
08:03Oh no!
08:33Look, we're approaching
08:49Of the 25 boats that Eric took with him, only 14 would reach Greenland.
09:02And the 400 survivors will found a new colony
09:08The harsh climate will hardly favor agriculture, so livestock farming will dominate.
09:13But the abundance of game, fish, and many other resources will ensure the colonists a decent survival.
09:19Oh yes!
09:22Hey !
09:24Greenland, Greenland, it's all very well, but what does it have to do with America?
09:28?
09:28Cowboys, skyscrapers!
09:30Oh, cowboys and skyscrapers, eh?
09:33Be patient, children, we'll get there soon.
09:34Moreover, you can see that from Norway to Greenland, three-quarters of the North Atlantic have already been crossed.
09:39The rest is still the story of the sailor who gets lost in the storm and discovers by chance
09:43a new land
09:44This sailor's name is Bjarni, and he left Iceland to join his father in Greenland.
09:48That he unknowingly surpasses
09:50It drifts westward until it reaches a flat land covered in forests.
09:57Are we going ashore?
09:58No, it doesn't resemble the description of Greenland.
10:01Yes, there are no trees there, we need to head back towards the northwest.
10:04We'll find out eventually.
10:07After more days of sailing, Bjarni reached the southwestern tip of Greenland where he was reunited with his father.
10:14For fifteen years, no one would speak of the mysterious lands of the west.
10:18However, around the year 1000
10:20Beneath these clouds, there is land
10:22And I'm certain that's the one old Bjarni was talking about.
10:25We should talk to my father about it.
10:30So we would like to buy back Bjarni's boat
10:32We could then go and see these islands covered in forests
10:34If he's telling the truth, all this wood will be very useful to us.
10:37We depend too much on Iceland for these things
10:41You're a good sailor, but how will you find your way?
10:44Looking west from the mountain peaks on a clear day, you can see clouds on the horizon that
10:48'one never encounters at sea
10:49Beneath these clouds, there must be land
10:51And you, when you discovered Greenland, did you know where you were going?
10:56We are indeed of the same blood, Lev
10:59Okay, take Bjarni's boat and go explore the new lands
11:07Why didn't you want to lead the expedition?
11:10We must make way for the young
11:12You know, that kind of adventure isn't really for someone my age anymore.
11:15Admit it, if it weren't for your broken leg, you would have gone.
11:23I'm not worried about you, I know you're in good hands
11:30Take good care of yourself, my brother
11:33You don't have to worry, Freydis
11:35And next time, you'll come with me.
11:37I'm not worried about it
11:38The magic runes offer you only good omens.
11:42May the god Odin protect you, Lev
12:06Ah, let's see.
12:09So, the sunstone indicates that you should go in that direction.
12:14The first land that Lev will see will be Paffin Island
12:17North of Hudson Strait
12:24This place isn't very welcoming, is it?
12:27No
12:27And Lulande, the land of flat stones
12:31Okay then, let's go home.
12:37This is indeed the last land we saw.
12:40Before returning to Greenland
12:41Now, we need to continue towards the southeast.
12:44A few days later, here they are in Labrador
12:54Yes, Lev, that's it, that's exactly where we were with Bjarni
12:58All this wood will become Markland, the land of forests
13:02Let's continue, we can always come back here later
13:04That's it, we're going home this time.
13:06No, get out!
13:07Oh, la la la!
13:11And two days later, here they are, facing the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
13:18Above all, everyone stay online, guys
13:19We mustn't get lost
13:20This new land is truly paradise.
13:32You can see our herds in the middle of this grass.
13:34Can you imagine the wonderful life we would have?
13:51Lef and his men will build huts to winter in.
13:54And a large communal house
14:07Let's take advantage of spring to explore the lands
14:09Go see
14:19I'm going
14:33But what is this creature?
14:37Wait a minute, you
14:39Oh, it smells really bad.
14:44It smells really, really bad
14:49Master, I don't feel well, I have a stomachache.
14:51No, no, don't come near me
14:55Oh, go wash yourself
15:13Look, they're jumping huge!
15:14Yes
15:18Oh
15:19Oh
15:19Oh
15:23Look, gentlemen, I've found some vines, wild grapes
15:26There are still loads of them
15:30It's death, there are loads of them, I tell you.
15:31The discovery of wild grapes, a product unknown in Scandinavian countries
15:35Lef will decide to name this island Vinland
15:38The land of vineyards
15:41Clearly, you can't trust anyone.
15:43Oh
15:44This story about wild grapes is false.
15:47But who wrote this?
15:48But that's completely false.
15:49The word for wine in Old Norse means pasture
15:52And if he chose to call this land Vinlande
15:53This is because it offered many grazing opportunities
15:56That's it, it's incredible
15:57So, ah, move over
16:00Let's start again
16:05Look, look what I found
16:10No, so what?
16:12But, but, ah, I had...
16:16Oh dear, I must have had a bit too much to drink.
16:22Having embarked, turned around, we weren't comfortable here, perhaps.
16:25It's always the same, they're never happy.
16:28Don't worry, we'll be back, and in large numbers, to form a colony
16:32In fact, your wine story might even be very useful to us.
16:38Ah, just as clever as his father, young Lef, eh?
16:42When Lef's extended family learned that fertile land could be found a few days' journey by sea...
16:47mild climate
16:50We all want to go there with you, what are you taking us with, Lef?
16:53Eric, my father is not doing very well.
16:55My duty is to take care of him and the notary here
16:58But my younger brother, Thorvald, will be leaving with you.
17:15We're here!
17:17We're here!
17:19We're here!
17:20We're here!
17:34We're here!
17:39We're here!
17:45We're here!
17:49We're here!
17:54We're here!
17:57Attack!
18:00So, no damage or injuries?
18:02Well, that's great, that's great.
18:05They are neither savages nor wretches.
18:09Yes, the Skrillings are scoundrels.
18:13But am I injured or something?
18:21Glory to you, Thorvald, son of Eryth, so young and taken away by the Valkyries.
18:25May the god Odin place you at his right hand at the great feast.
18:28He goes there, there.
18:43Master, your brother-in-law Thorfinn, the merchant, has just arrived from Iceland.
18:47Let him know that he is welcome here in Greenland and that I will receive him.
19:00Wine?
19:01Yes, wine. Thank you, it's a luxury we're not used to.
19:05So, this new land of Vinland, why don't you colonize it?
19:09Since my father died, I have too many responsibilities here to be able to leave again.
19:13My brother tried hard, but the damned natives killed him.
19:17And besides, we would need several boats, well-armed men, women, livestock, and our resources don't allow for that.
19:22not.
19:24But you, Thorfinn, came here with two boats. They are well equipped.
19:28A man of your stature could make a good expedition leader.
19:31I propose a third boat and, in addition, my hunting skills.
19:34When to send men to fight savages, well, I must tell you that I know a thing or two about that.
19:38With the goods I have with me, we can trade with the scraylings.
19:42And if that doesn't work, only then will we use force.
19:47Well, I suggest you spend the winter here with us.
19:50And when the good weather returns, we will begin the preparations for departure.
19:54Well said, my brother.
19:55But you forgot to mention that a member of our family has always been part of the trip.
19:59So, I propose to accompany you.
20:01But only on the condition that he keeps an eye on you.
20:22Addy, Addy!
20:24Addy!
20:34The first winter was very mild and the livestock were able to graze at their leisure.
20:41However, there was a shortage of food to meet the needs of such a large community.
20:50And certain distinctions quickly emerged.
20:53Don't touch me!
20:55Hey, hey!
20:56Hey, you brute, you threw it there before you!
21:01Stay calm, man, that's how you stay alive.
21:03Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!
21:13With the arrival of spring, the settlers will have their first contact with the scraylings, the Indians.
21:19At first, bartering will work, and go very well.
21:21Hey, hey, hey, hey!
21:23Hey, hey, hey!
21:36And I say we need to fortify our camp
21:38And then attack those wretched scoundrels before our men fall asleep.
21:41Yes, but without the food that was brought to us, we wouldn't have made it through the winter.
21:46And I say they are very dangerous
21:48Yes, yes, dangerous, they are very dangerous
21:50All the exchanges we have made have always been to our advantage.
21:53I don't see why we should change all of this now.
21:57You're crazy, completely crazy.
22:00As for me, I have absolutely no intention of staying here with these savages.
22:04You're not crazy, are you?
22:19Torgal and eight of his men will steer their ship towards Greenland
22:22But a violent storm will push them across the Atlantic
22:31And they will arrive in Ireland
22:48Where are they? Where are they? Where are they? But where are they?
22:58Oh no, they've come to barter again.
23:00We have nothing left to exchange, what do we do?
23:29Look, they're attacking with your weapons!
23:30Hello !
23:31Hello !
23:33Hello !
23:34Hello !
23:35Hello !
23:59Hello !
24:02What? Warriors like you, intimidated by savages?
24:06Coward! Give me a weapon! I'll show you how to fight!
24:34Tordial was right, there are not enough of us and we will never have peace.
24:38It's better to leave.
24:47Those Vikings are useless!
24:49This will be the end of Viking attempts to colonize America.
24:52It's understandable that their descendants are proud of their ancestors.
24:56Nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus, Magellan and other Vespuccis,
24:59These giants from the cold pushed back the boundaries of the unknown more than anyone else in their time.
25:04Because they looted our churches, they were considered to be mere brutes.
25:08But during the 300 years of their reign,
25:10The Vikings were the most open and dynamic civilization of the Middle Ages.
25:15Merchants, warriors, or pirates, depending on the whims of fate,
25:18They were the most intrepid adventurers of their time.
25:30The explorers
25:33They discovered the world, they made the earth round.
25:36These film buffs
25:38They will still find ways to forge their own paths.
25:41And then offer them to the souls
25:44Like offering a beautiful woman
25:47To you, to us, to me, I believe.
25:51Subtitling by Radio-Canada
25:52Subtitling by Radio-Canada
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