North of the Amazon, mist-veiled peaks hold mysterious life

A Bonne Pioche production, a 52' documentary

Between the Amazon and the Orinoco, in a magnificent landscape of rain forest and gran sabana, mysterious mountains loom, their flattened peaks wreathed in mist. Known as tepuys by the Native Americans, they form insular ecosystems where 80% of the animal and plant species are unknown to science, the result of divergent evolution governed by extreme climatic conditions.

In this blasted, lunar setting, plants and animals have achieved a precarious balance. Hairy caterpillars, armoured frogs, prehistoric lizards and terrifying aquatic larvae fight ferociously for survival among strange, carnivorous plants which use bright colours to attract their prey or conceal deadly traps behind inviting foliage. Here and there, wild orchids flaunt their multicoloured flowers.

In December 1998, a Franco-American scientific expedition climbed several of these mountains to identify rare species and analyse the scents emitted by flowers, mosses, plants and insects . Using special filming methods, they introduce us to these islands of nature, vital to future gnerations.

Directed by Antoine de Maximy & Henri Herré

Produced by BONNE PIOCHE, France 2, ECOGUIDE International and I.R.D with the participation of C.N.C., Ministére de la Culture, SACEM, Ministére de l'Education Nationale de la Recherche et de la Technologie in collaboration with RTBF and the support of the PROCIREP in association with TELE Images International.