“The Park of a Thousand Lands” (05:20)
FREE PREVIEW
The park contains replicas of the Great Pyramid of Giza and other famous monuments from around the world. A tour guide drives a family by a replica of the Eiffel Tower before taking them to a display apartment in Sky City.
Copycat Architecture (03:37)
Author Bianca Bosker discusses China's urbanization campaign and a project that led to replicas of other areas from around the world being built in Shanghai; Holland Village is one example.
Basilica of Our Lady of Peace (09:53)
Pierre Fakhoury designed the Ivory Coast church, drawing inspiration from St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome; it is a legacy of President Felix Houphouët-Boigny. Father Stanislaw Skuza leads a service.
Thames Town (03:29)
Anthony Mackay recalls the Shanghai Planning Authority hiring him to build the English-themed district. Mackay's stance on the idea of copying has softened.
Sky City (08:47)
An educator outlines plans for her kindergarten room in Tianducheng. She explains why she moved to the housing estate, which contains a giant replica of the Eiffel Tower. In Paris, Jean-Francois Staszak discusses replicas and “the geography of the imagination.”
Taj Mahal Tribute (06:00)
A man explains why he is building a replica in Dubai. He hopes it will stand for 100 to 150 years.
London Tower Bridge (08:01)
A wedding photographer takes photos of a couple standing on a replica of the British landmark in Suzhou, China. It is a popular destination for newlyweds.
Mirage or Reality? (04:18)
In Tianducheng, the educator is missing a Chinese flag for her classroom. A local man, who describes himself as a philosopher, believes the city is a symbolic merger of western and Chinese cultures. Culture is not defined by nationality.
Pilgrims in Yamoussoukro (03:58)
Father Skuza and his congregation prepare for a big event at Basilica of Our Lady of Peace. As many as 120,000 people will celebrate "the extraordinary jubilee of mercy."
Credits: The Real Thing: Real Life in a Copycat World (00:48)
Credits: The Real Thing: Real Life in a Copycat World
For additional digital leasing and purchase options contact a media consultant at 800-257-5126
(press option 3) or sales@films.com.