What happens when a British Dominion – in the middle of a world war – knowingly pillages a priceless artwork and then the actual British Government tells them to give it back?
Well, then you get a whole new kind of global conflict.
Believe it or not, scattered across Australia are fragments of a mysterious, ancient Palestinian Mosaic that dates back to the 6th century. When you put the pieces together you get a tapestry of war, borders and how the British Empire shaped the modern Middle East.
This week, Marc Fennell is on the trail of a British-born, Oxford-educated Reverend who served with Australian forces in World War 1.
He’s also a man who presided over one of the most controversial art “acquisitions” Australia has ever inherited. Some say he saved a precious treasure, to others his actions would fit the definition of a war crime.
Marc takes you across the Holy Land from Jericho to Jerusalem.
From the breath-taking beauty of Hisham’s Palace through a scavenger hunt for pieces of the story in churches spread along Australia’s east coast, it all culminates with one of the nation’s most revered galleries: the Australian War Memorial.
But will they finally talk openly about one of their most controversial displays?
Production credit: An Australia-Canada co-production. Co-produced by Wooden Horse, WildBear Entertainment and Cream Productions (Canada) for the ABC and the CBC. Principal production funding from Screen Australia. Financed with support from the Canada Media Fund, Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, Ontario Creates, and Content Mint. Executive producers: Richard Finlayson and Jude Troy (Wooden Horse); Alan Erson and Michael Tear (WildBear Entertainment); and David Brady and Kate Harrison (Cream Productions). Co-producer, Writer, Marc Fennell. ABC Commissioning Editor and Executive Producer: Kalita Corrigan. CBC Executive Director of Unscripted Content: Jennifer Dettman. CBC Executive in Charge of Production, Unscripted Content: Nic Meloney. Acting Head of Factual and Culture: Richard Huddleston. FremantleMedia will distribute the series world-wide.
