Series synopsis
Winds : an Invisible Strength, also known as Grands vents is a French documentary television series that premiered on ARTE on August 27, 2024. It ended on August 28, 2024. It stars Micky Sébastian.
Invisible but fundamental to life on the planet, wind has inspired many myths in human civilizations. A key player in oxygenating the oceans, it governs the movements of insect and bird populations, shapes the plant world, influences transportation, and is an inexhaustible source of energy. By turns devastating and beneficial, whether dry, violent, hot, cold, or humid, it lays down the law wherever it blows. There are thousands of them around the globe, each with its own characteristics.
At the ...
Premise
Invisible but fundamental to life on the planet, wind has inspired many myths in human civilizations. A key player in oxygenating the oceans, it governs the movements of insect and bird populations, shapes the plant world, influences transportation, and is an inexhaustible source of energy. By turns devastating and beneficial, whether dry, violent, hot, cold, or humid, it lays down the law wherever it blows. There are thousands of them around the globe, each with its own characteristics.
At the crossroads of geography, history, human adventure, and science, Grands Vents follows the path of five iconic winds—the Mistral of Provence, the Chinook of the Rockies, the transatlantic trade winds, the North African Sirocco, and the Indian monsoon—through the eyes of those who study them, await them, fear them, or even enjoy them.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Micky Sébastian as Self - Narrator(voice)
Episodes
This series spans 1 season with 5 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 5 | August 27, 2024 | August 28, 2024 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Chinook, the Warm Wind of the Rockies Each winter in western Canada and the US, cold and ice dominate the landscape, but the Rocky Mountains are regularly swept by the Chinook, a warm downslope wind that melts snow, triggers early wildlife activity, and briefly awakens nature before winter returns. |
August 27, 2024 |
| 2 |
Mistral, the Master Wind Invisible yet essential, winds shape ecosystems, landscapes, cultures and myths. In southern France, the cold, dry Mistral sweeps through the Rhône Valley, reaching Aigues-Mortes and Mont Ventoux. Both destructive and beneficial, it forces nature and people to adapt to its force. |
August 24, 2024 |
| 3 |
Trade Winds, the Breath of Voyagers The trade winds, blowing between the tropics and the equator, enabled early ocean crossings and transformed global exploration. Today they still guide sailors, while also carrying Saharan dust across the Atlantic that fertilizes the Amazon rainforest, sustaining one of Earth’s richest ecosystems. |
August 26, 2024 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | ARTE |
|---|---|
| First aired | August 27, 2024 |
| Last aired | August 28, 2024 |
| Runtime | 44 minutes |
| Status | ended |