The world's most famous museums reveal their major collections and the fascinating stories of how they came to house them. This beautiful high-definition series shows what the royalty, nobility and fabulously wealthy inhabitants of France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, the UK and the USA, the original owners of the collections, found beautiful enough to acquire. The stories behind the works and their artists are an intriguing insight into the world and times from which they came. How did Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, arguably the most famous painting in the world, end up in a French museum?

Welcome to the world of the wild, anarchist girl band that is tackling the Russian government head on. Shot on the streets and in and out of jail cells this is a rare insider's look, following the group's every step as they take the fight to Putin. Singing, protesting and getting arrested, it's a bizarre odyssey. Through the band's struggle and the reaction of Russian society towards them, this doc skilfully captures the essence of modern Russia. "Blashphemers get behind me Satan," shouts an Orthodox protestor as he's lead away by police. Side by side religious protestors and the Pussy Riot girls stage their own protests as the police bear down on them. Suddenly, in a bizarre twist, protestors from both sides who've been arrested are thrown into the same police van. "You make your own performance and we do ours," one of the Orthodox boys says, laughing. But quickly the conversation becomes heated. "Hacked icons on Red Square, do you call this art?" They say. "Yes I think art must be free," the girls respond. "You can fuck each other, but don't touch the Church! I'd cut my own throat before I let this desecration happen." "Do you have a name for your movement; for your group?" The guitarist asks. "Pussy riot." The girls, all wearing their trademark colourful balaclavas, say one after the other, almost chanting it. "Riot - it's kinda revolt on the street... pussy - a tender name for a girl or kitty." In the intimate space of their changing room, they're setting out exactly what they're about. "Pussy cat made a mess in the house." And in the house that is Russia they're definitely making a mess. At an impromptu concert in the subway they sing, "Warm up the muscles on your hands and legs. A Cop is licking between the legs." The crowd love it, they clap and whistle, "Wow, fuck it." But when the come down, they're arrested and violently dragged off. As the crowds watch on silently, with no-one saying a word, the scene has the eerie sensation of a totalitarian nightmare. The girls' journey is full of striking scenes like this, as the girl's continually draw out a response from Putin's regime and divide a country where conservatism and anarchy both exist as powerful, potent forces. A stark image of today's Russia.

The world of El Greco, a painter, sculptor, and architect of the Spanish Renaissance. El Greco's dramatic and expressionistic style was met with puzzlement by his contemporaries but found appreciation in the 20th century. El Greco is regarded as a precursor of both Expressionism and Cubism and his work was championed by artists such as Rusiol and Picasso. El Greco has been characterized by modern scholars as an artist so individual that he belongs to no conventional school. He is best known for tortuously elongated figures and often fantastic or phantasmagorical pigmentation, marrying Byzantine traditions with those of Western painting.

"Every time I'm about to do a strip, it's because I can't avoid it, either because I need the money--in the old days--or now, because I just need to think something through, make it manifest." In this documentary film, Pulitzer Prize-winner Art Spiegelman talks about his life history and his creative process using New York City as a backdrop and family photos, clips from home movies, and panels from comic creations such as Maus, Raw magazine, and In the Shadow of No Towers as props. Françoise Mouly, Spiegelman's wife and cover editor at The New Yorker, is also interviewed.

An intimate and involving documentary that charts in full—for the first time—the consequences of a worldwide controversy that forced author Salman Rushdie into hiding for over a decade. Following publication of his novel The Satanic Verses in 1988, Rushdie was accused of blasphemy by conservative Muslims. As the situation escalated, on 14 February 1989 Iran's then leader Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa calling on Muslims to kill the book's author and publishers. This is the inside story of how it felt to be at the epicentre of an international crisis as Rushdie recalls the day-to-day drama of living under a death sentence, terrified for the safety of his child, and hearing horrific news of his publishers and translators being attacked and killed. The programme features unprecedented access to key figures, including Rushdi's closest family and friends. This is an episode of BBC series Imagine.

In 1960, Cuban photographer Alberto "Korda" Díaz captured a photo of Ernesto "Che" Guevara during a mass funeral. History conspired to enable this dynamic portrait to explode on the world scene in 1968 throughout Europe and Latin America, when it became an international symbol of protest and dissent. In the last decade, with the establishment of the Internet, the image has once again travelled the globe in many forms. From protest to commerce, it is constantly transformed and reinvented. It is considered to be the most reproduced image in the history of photography. Why and how did this photograph become so important? Chevolution is a film about a photograph. It explores how the Che image travelled from Korda's studio in Havana to the streets of Europe and beyond. We investigate how this portrait with its enigmatic gaze became a symbol for countless visions for change.

Biography of John Huston: film director, screenwriter and actor. A Pioneer of film noir, westerns, war films and epic dramas. We explore his life and works, which include classics such as The Maltese Falcon, Treasure of the Sierra Madre, and The African Queen.

Dive into the riveting debate over the future of ideas. To some, the digital revolution can offer an extraordinary gift to humanity: unfettered access to all published content. The other side defends copyright as indispensable in ensuring that the best minds commit their energy and time to the written word. This doc visits the libraries, book clubs, classrooms and corporate offices on the frontlines of this fight to give us the whole story.

Hirini Melbourne and Richard Nunns, accompanied by Aroha Yates-Smith discuss the philosophy behind composing and recording of the album Te Hekenga-a-rangi, Richard and Hirini's follow up to their landmark Te Ku Te Whe. Interview plus performance. This was video-taped three weeks before Hirini passed away.

A feature-length documentary that follows the creation of a Steinway concert grand, #L1037 - from forest floor to concert hall. It explores the relationship between musician and instrument, chronicles the manufacturing process, and illustrates what makes each Steinway unique in this age of mass production. From the factory floor in Queens to Steinway Hall in Manhattan, each piano's journey is complex-spanning 12 months, 12,000 parts, 450 craftsmen, and countless hours of fine-tuned labour.

Jack Kerouac penned such books as On the Road and The Dharma Bums, which captured the essence of the bohemian life that he came to personify. This documentary follows him on the road from the life of a beatnik in New York City, and across the country to California, as he set out to find America and himself. Archival photographs, film clips, interviews with those who knew him, readings from his books, and scholarly commentary provide insight into this icon of the Beat generation. Features archival footage of Jack Kerouac and fragments of interviews with Allan Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti and William S. Burroughs.

Where is Australian culture coming from in the 21st century? Writer and presenter Marcus Westbury takes us from geeks broadcasting to audiences of millions from their bedrooms, to a remote Indigenous community in the Northern Territory via the Melbourne Writers Festival and little bit of high-end experimental sound art. Marcus is on a search to find a new generation of Australian artists and audiences for whom the tyranny of distance - the thing that had defined Australian culture for so long - is essentially irrelevant.

The Uffizi Gallery (or Galleria degli Uffizi), is one of the oldest and most celebrated art museums in the world. It is located in the Palazzo degli Uffizi, in Florence, Italy - the home of the European Renaissance. As one might expect from the foremost museum of the Florence Renaissance, its collection of masterpieces from the Proto, Early and High Renaissance eras, initiated by the powerful Medici family, later enlarged by the Lorraine Grand Dukes and completed by the Italian State authorities, is second to none. It also includes other important collections, notably the Contini Bonacossi Collection and the Collection of Prints and Drawings (Gabinetto Disegni e Stampe degli Uffizi). The Uffizi has been open to visitors since the late 16th century, and was officially opened to the public in 1765.

Is culture a set of elaborate and elaborately-funded life support systems, or an infection that's trying to attack us? What's the difference between a symphony orchestra and a covers band (apart from about $40million dollars a year) and why does the Australia Council spend more money on a single opera company than all the visual artists and musicians (not including symphony orchestras) in the country combined? In this episode, presenter Marcus Westbury meets the artists who have turned Hosier Lane in Melbourne into one of Australia's prime tourist attractions; hangs out with multimedia musicians The Herd; and wonders why the games industry has so much money but so little content. Creator of the Australian game Escape from Woomera, Katharine Neil, has some ideas why, which she shares with Marcus. We also find out what uncollectable art is.

The Master of Suspense himself, who is interviewed extensively here, shares stories including his deep-seated fear of policemen, elaborates on the difference between shock and suspense, defines the meaning of "MacGuffin," and discusses his use of storyboarding in designing a film.

An insightful and humourous journey through an increasingly fragmented cultural landscape - where the Internet and communications have given us a set of cultural choices and influences unimaginable even a decade ago. Presenter and writer Marcus Westbury has unearthed an eclectic and amusing mix of artists, writers, critics and musicians whose work has found their audiences – often in the millions – through networks well outside the traditional ideas of where culture lives.

The New Dance Group played a key role in pioneering modern dance in New Zealand in the 1940s – an inspiring example of a young group without money or institutional support, who succeeded in creating something new in the arts by sheer determination and innovative thinking. Their story (which involves some well-known New Zealanders from theatre and education) reflects the excitement of the immediate post-war years in New Zealand. This important, re-discovered slice of dance history - which grew out of research by Marianne Schultz - is told in rich personal detail by director Shirley Horrocks. The documentary features striking archival footage of the group, lively and engaging interviews with surviving members, re-enactments, and many rare photographs. The group was inspired by Martha Graham and Doris Humphrey, pioneers of modern dance, with whom one of the members (Rona Bailey) had studied in New York. The New Dance Group's performances tackled weighty contemporary themes such as the mechanization of factory work and the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

Marti: the passionate eye traces the dramatic personal story of Marti Friedlander, one of New Zealand’s leading photographers, alongside the major social changes she recorded. She has photographed New Zealand’s best-known artists in their studios, collaborated with Michael King on a famous series of Maori portraits, and documented many protest activities including the Springbok Tour and the Women’s Movement. Marti talks frankly about the art of photography, her life, and the fascinating people and events she has portrayed.

Died Young, Stayed Pretty is a candid look at the underground poster culture in North America. This unique documentary examines the creative spirit that drives these indie graphic artists. They pick through the dregs of America’s schizophrenic culture and piece them back together. What you end up with is a caricature of the black and bloated heart that pulses greed through the US economy. The artists push further into the pulp to grab the attention of passersby, plastering art that’s both vulgar and intensely visceral onto the gnarled surfaces of the urban landscape. The film gives us intimate look at some of the giants of this modern subculture. Outside of their own circle, they’re virtually unknown. But within their ranks they make up an army of bareknuckle brawlers, publicly arguing the aesthetic merits of octopus imagery and hairy 70s porn stars. They’ve created their own visual language for describing the spotty underbelly of western civilization and they\'re not shy about throwing it in the face of polite society. Along the way, they manage to create posters that are strikingly obscene, unflinchingly blasphemous and often quite beautiful. Yaghoobian shows these artists for what they are: the vivisectionists of America’s morbidly obese consumer culture.

Not Quite Art is an insightful and humourous journey through an increasingly fragmented cultural landscape - where the internet and communications have given us a set of cultural choices and influences unimaginable even a decade ago. Presenter and writer Marcus Westbury has unearthed an eclectic and amusing mix of artists, writers, critics and musicians whose work has found their audiences - often in the millions - through networks well outside the traditional ideas of where 'Australian culture' lives. Not Quite Art traces how our culture is shifting from the hierarchical, local and parochial structures to a global and networked world where Australian artists have audiences around the world, yet often remain relatively unknown in their local community.

A Changing Landscape is the story of six leading New Zealand artists from the South Island: Elizabeth Stevens, Bill Sutton, Lindsay Crooks, John Badcock, Peter Beadle and Trevor Moffit. The documentary visits each artist and explore the factors that effect their work, such as commercialisation, tourism, cultural and environmental issues. Soundtrack music supplied by Flying Nun Records of course.

Picasso’s work is like a huge, personal diary combining his own life story and the history of the 20th century. This documentary looks back over key moments in the life and work of the master.

A series that explores the lives and works of some of the greatest artists in history through touring museums, churches and palaces throughout Europe and the USA.

The Crucifixion has been the primary theme of Western art for 1500 years, attracting more superb paintings and artists - than any other subject. Art of the Cross looks at how Christ's Passion has been portrayed from the earliest times to the present day, from the images used by the early Christians in the Roman catacombs to the glorious interpretations of Renaissance artists to the modern, bold concerns of artists such as Munch, Chagall and Dali. Filmed at major art centres throughout Europe, Art of the Cross shows how the greatest artists in the world have dealt with Christianity's greatest story. Each generation has interpreted the Cross in a unique way, reflecting the religious and social concerns of the period. Art of the Cross will look at how portrayals of the Crucifixion reflect their times, from the fish and anchor imagery of the Christian catacombs to Chagall's White Cross, which embodies Nazi persecution of the Jews, to contemporary works.

Richard Nunns is one of New Zealand's most respected international performers and collector of Māori music and instruments.

The driving force behind the Cubist movement, Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) was influenced by the sights and colours of Provence, where he lived in exile from his native Spain for much of his life. In the region immortalised by the French Impressionists, Picasso explored his world of deep colours and twisted perspectives.

Vincent van Gogh (1853-90) is one of the most intriguing of visual artists, both for his personal life as well as his work: a genius whose creative brilliance now commands record-breaking prices and a 'madman' whose insanity has surrounded him with myth. This visually stunning documentary follows the painter's final years from 1888-90 when he left Paris for the south of France. Location footage combines with his own words, taken from his prolific correspondence with his brother Theo. Images of his powerful canvases bring to life his time in Arles, the period he spent in the asylum at St-Rémy, and his last weeks in Auvers-sur-Oise.

If the name Edith Collier is unfamiliar, that's reason enough to see this documentary. Overlooked and underrated, Collier (1885-1964) is a New Zealand painter whose time has come to step out of the shadows. Born in Wanganui, Collier travelled to England in her late twenties, and under the stimulus of Modernism began to find expression for her talent. Unlike fellow student Frances Hodgkins, however, she returned after almost 10 years, called home by family obligations that were to take precedence over art for the rest of her life. She didn't stop painting, but it was a career hobbled by social expectations and what seem to us now to be quaintly narrow attitudes towards art.

A series that takes a look at the work of the world’s great photographers. Covering everything from fashion photography to photojournalism, high art to paparazzi, The Art of The Photograph "takes an in-depth look at all aspects of the fascinating world of the photographic image."

Iconic writer, director, actor, comedian, and musician Woody Allen allowed his life and creative process to be documented on-camera for the first time. With this unprecedented access, Emmy-winning, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Robert Weide followed the notoriously private film legend over a year and a half to create the ultimate film biography. Woody Allen: A Documentary chronicles Allen's career - from teen writer to Sid Caeser's TV scribe, from standup comedian to award-winning writer-director averaging one film-per-year for more than 40 years. Exploring Allen's writing habits, casting, directing, and relationship with his actors first-hand, new interviews with A-listers, writing partners, family and friends provide insight and backstory to the usually inscrutable filmmaker. Whyaduck Productions, Rat Entertainment, Mike's Movies, and Insurgent Media production in association with THIRTEEN's American Masters present ; a film by Robert B. Weide ; written, directed and produced by Robert B. Weide.

"An entirely absorbing...revelatory portrait of a brilliant talent driven to greatness by an inner chorus of demons and angels." - New York Times. "...splendid, searching...haunting" - Entertainment Weekly. He was the most American of artists and the most artistic of Americans, one man later said "so American in fact that he is almost invisible to us. Andy Warhol, a riveting and often deeply moving film portrait of the most famous and famously controversial artist of the second half of the twentieth century, is the first to explore the complete spectrum of Warhol's astonishing artistic output, stretching across five decades from the late 1940s to his untimely death in 1987. Combining powerful on-camera interviews and rare still and motion picture footage, it is also the first to put Warhol himself--his humble family background and formative experiences in Pittsburgh, and his crucial apprenticeship as a commercial artist in New York--back into the presentation of his life. Includes interviews with Irving Blum, Bob Colacello, Donna De Salvo, Vincent Fremont, Dave Hickey, Stephen Koch, Wayne Koestenbaum, Jeff Koons, Paul Morrissey, Billy Name, George Plimpton, Neil Printz, John Richardson, Ronald Tavel and John Warhola. A special two-part presentation for American Masters.

"An entirely absorbing...revelatory portrait of a brilliant talent driven to greatness by an inner chorus of demons and angels." - New York Times. "...splendid, searching...haunting" - Entertainment Weekly. He was the most American of artists and the most artistic of Americans, one man later said "so American in fact that he is almost invisible to us. Andy Warhol, a riveting and often deeply moving film portrait of the most famous and famously controversial artist of the second half of the twentieth century, is the first to explore the complete spectrum of Warhol's astonishing artistic output, stretching across five decades from the late 1940s to his untimely death in 1987. Combining powerful on-camera interviews and rare still and motion picture footage, it is also the first to put Warhol himself--his humble family background and formative experiences in Pittsburgh, and his crucial apprenticeship as a commercial artist in New York--back into the presentation of his life. Includes interviews with Irving Blum, Bob Colacello, Donna De Salvo, Vincent Fremont, Dave Hickey, Stephen Koch, Wayne Koestenbaum, Jeff Koons, Paul Morrissey, Billy Name, George Plimpton, Neil Printz, John Richardson, Ronald Tavel and John Warhola. A special two-part presentation for American Masters.

NZTrio, New Zealand’s leading piano trio, thrives on connecting with audiences through intimate and exhilarating performances of a fascinatingly diverse repertoire. Violinist Justine Cormack, cellist Ashley Brown and pianist Sarah Watkins first joined forces in 2002 and were Ensemble in Residence at The University of Auckland from 2004-2009. From the outset their artistry, intensity and approachability has captivated music lovers throughout the world. The trio perform music by Jack Body, Ross Harris and Ernst Chausson.

Famous actors, directors and writers reminisce about their careers and the philosophy behind their careers. Hosted by James Lipton ; interview with Mark Wallberg. Mark Wahlberg recalls his criminal past as a troubled youth in Boston, his days as a male model and his work in “Boogie Nights,” “Three Kings,” “The Perfect Storm” and “I Heart Huckabees.” Wahlberg also reflects on his former musical career, in which he acquired a bad-boy image rapping under the moniker Marky Mark; his parents' divorce; and filmmaker David O. Russell. In addition, Wahlberg does a rap and describes his tattoos.

Famous actors, directors and writers reminisce about their careers and the philosophy behind their careers. Hosted by James Lipton ; interview with Josh Brolin. Season 15, ep. 4. Josh Brolin has been on the acting scene for over 20 years. He debuted in the beloved 1985 classic, The Goonies and has gone on to star in over 20 films. In the last 5 years he has become one of the Hollywood's most sought after actors, taking roles in such critically acclaimed films as, In the Valley of Elah, The Dead Girl, and, American Gangster. Last year Brolin picked up an ensemble cast SAG award for the 2007 Academy Award winning film, No Country For Old Men. Currently you can catch him on the big screen in Gus Van Sant's Milk, in which he portrays former San Francisco Supervisor Dan White, a role which has garnered much acclaim as well as another two SAG nominations. He has already received a Best Supporting Actor win at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards for the outstanding performance.

Famous actors, directors and writers reminisce about their careers and the philosophy behind their careers. Hosted by James Lipton ; interview with Daniel Radcliffe. Season 15, ep. 3. Best known for playing Harry Potter in the big screen adaptation of the famed book series, Daniel Radcliffe is an accomplished young actor with a growing resume. Dan, who showed interest in acting from a young age, got his start playing a young David Copperfield in the BBC adaptation of Charles Dickens' prized novel. He got his big break when he was cast as the title character in 2000's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.He has since gone on to play Harry in all eight of the Harry Potter films, but his work isn't limited to screen. He received rave reviews for his role as Alan Strang in the controversial play "Equus." The play began on London's West End, but he can currently be seen on Broadway in the New York production.

Famous actors, directors and writers reminisce about their careers and the philosophy behind their careers. Hosted by James Lipton ; interview with Dustin Hoffman. Season 12, ep. 16. A star-studded audience attends to see the beloved, talented leading man who gives a rare in-depth interview with humor and honesty.

Famous actors, directors and writers reminisce about their careers and the philosophy behind their careers. Hosted by James Lipton ; interview with Colin Firth. Season 17, ep. 4. As the Oscars quickly approach, James Lipton sits down with favored Best Actor nominee Colin Firth. Looking back at his start, including some of his earlier films like Bridget Jones' Diary, all the way up to The Kings Speech.

Famous actors, directors and writers reminisce about their careers and the philosophy behind their careers. Hosted by James Lipton ; interview with Hilary Swank. Season 16, ep. 1. James interviews Morgan Freeman, Clint Eastwood, and Hilary Swank after the Oscars. Hilary shares that portrayal of Tina Brandon was a very emotional for her due to the brutality, that being directed by Clint Eastwood was a dream come true, and what drew her to portray Amelia Earhart.

Famous actors, directors and writers reminisce about their careers and the philosophy behind their careers. Hosted by James Lipton ; interview with James Franco. Season 17, ep. 2. James Franco, star of 2010's "127 Hours," 2008's "Milk" and the Spider-Man film franchise, chats about his life and career.

Famous actors, directors and writers reminisce about their careers and the philosophy behind their careers. Hosted by James Lipton ; interview with Ralph Fiennes. Season 12, ep. 8. Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes is an English actor. He has appeared in such films as The English Patient, In Bruges, The Constant Gardener, Strange Days and Maid in Manhattan. He is also well known for his portrayals of four infamous villains: Nazi war criminal Amon Göth in Schindler's List; serial killer Francis Dolarhyde in the 2002 film Red Dragon; Rameses II in The Prince of Egypt; and Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter film series. Most recently, he appeared in The Reader (2008), In Bruges (2008) The Hurt Locker (2009) and as Hades in Clash of the Titans (2010). He won a Tony Award and has been nominated twice for Academy Awards. He is also a UNICEF UK ambassador. He was praised by many for being a "perfect fit", for playing the role of Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter saga.

New York and Paris - two cities whose very names evoke passion. Both of these metropolises were extensively photographed during their golden ages, and the artists who carried out this documenting were linked together in a very special way. Eugene Atget is considered to be the father of modern photography. His images of Paris have influenced artists for generations. However, Atget's work would have been lost to the world if not for the vigorous efforts of the American photographer Berenice Abbott. Abbott met Atget in 1926 when Atget was nearing the end of his life and Abbott's career just beginning. Abbott recognised Atget's genius and became his champion for the next forty years.

Programme 6: Chicago, Illinois to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The week’s riches include an extraordinary collection of modern architecture in the tiny mid-west town of Columbus, Indiana, and the world’s largest ball of paint. We meet artist Ann Hamilton and Andy Warhol’s brother in Pittsburgh. Plus we visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s stunning Fallingwater house and see Diego Rivera’s masterful murals in Detroit.

Programme 8: Boston, Massachusetts to Vinalhaven, Maine. The last week begins in Boston with some stunning architecture on the MIT campus and with the nearby Museum of Bad Art. We encounter the Shakers and smart public art both in the libraries of Portland, Maine and in the public transit system of Montreal. And finally we take a chopper across to the tiny island of Vinalhaven to meet artist Robert Indiana.

Programme 4: Denver, Colorado to Minneapolis, Minnesota. The great plains offer Carhenge at Alliance, Nebraska (Stonehenge but made from cars) and the world’s largest easel. Photographer Alec Soth makes a photograph and we tour the General Mills Art Collection. Great buildings include the Des Moines Art Center and the Walker Arts Center in Minneapolis, graced with a new extension by Herzog & de Meuron.

Programme 5: Minneapolis, Minnesota to Chicago, Illinois. St John’s Abbey outside Minneapolis was designed by modernist Marcel Breuer. St Louis’ Memorial Arch is a great feat of engineering, and Richard Serra’s Joe is pretty good too. Michael Eastman shows us how he photographs America’s vanishing buildings, and in Chicago we visit Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House and the glorious new Millennium Park.

Programmes 9-12: reprise the highlights of the series with each programme taking a theme: Artists, Architecture, Collections and what we call Only in America – the quirky and strange aspects of the trip that were among the most memorable people and places that we encountered.

Programmes 9-12: reprise the highlights of the series with each programme taking a theme: Artists, Architecture, Collections and what we call Only in America – the quirky and strange aspects of the trip that were among the most memorable people and places that we encountered.