The Tree of All Trees – Mysterious Journey into the World of Oaks

In the middle of the jungle, in the Reinhardswald in Hessen, a 500 year old oak towers into the sky-- its crown opulent, its roots far reaching and its bark jagged. Its circumference measures more than eleven meters. Jaybirds, squirrels and pine marten accompany the oak through all four seasons and fight for their life and survival in storm and snow.

In old boles explorers find evidence for climate change in the previous centuries. With adventurous means, biologists search for the tiniest inhabitants within the vast crowns. Stag beetles are tagged with small transmitters in order to disclose the last secrets of their own species while tracing their way from one tree to another.

Standing as an example for its conspecifics across Europe, the oak reports of stories and history: of Robin Hood, who hid in the Major Oak after successful deeds, of the German worship and of the Druids, the “oak men”, who reaped the ingredients for their mysterious potions from the trees. At dawn we search for truffle in the Italian Latium, curiously dipping into a tannery, still working with old-fashioned techniques.

The camera crew shot over a year with elaborate techniques in order to portray the tree of all trees, around which so many fairytales and myths intertwine. Thanks to track and crane shots, balloon rides, the use of mini-cameras and breathtaking time lapses, the world of oaks is illustrated from unimaginable perspectives. Dramatic sequences of myths and legends complete the picture.

1 x 45’ / 1 x 80’
ZDF, ARTE, ZDF-E, Filmstiftung NRW