Impressive pyramids of tranquility against the backdrop of the bustling city of Cairo; Welcome to Egypt, a fascinating country divided. There have been many discoveries over the years here, from an ancient civilization that has shaped and defined our own history and understanding of the world. The Egyptians were far ahead of their time in both architecture and artistic beauty. But, nevertheless, only 30% of those treasures have been discovered. 70% is still hidden under the sand.
Step up with the Netflix documentary film crew acting like a fly on the wall as we travel to Egypt and the sands of Saqqara. There, the focus is divided between famous Egyptologists, Dr. Zahi Hawass and his protégé and rival, Dr. Mostafa Waziri. Both have their own teams directly focused on uncovering the greatest discovery in Saqqara, the City of the Dead.
Director: Max Salomon
Stars: Zahi Hawass, Mostafa Waziri
As Waziri heads to a site in Bubasteion, Hawass focuses squarely on discovering the lost pyramid of a potential king named Huni. Mentioned in the history books and with a potential head of state that could belong to him, Hawass is determined to shake the very foundations of Egyptology with a massive discovery and make sure his name is front and center. Despite their rivalry, the couple have a good relationship. Throughout the film, the pair meet and banter, adding a healthy air of camaraderie to the mix.
The film does a great job of getting up close to the action, with the claustrophobic interior of the tombs shown in its stark form. Beads of sweat accumulate on the excavator's forehead, work is slow and methodical, while the various discoveries are handled with care, using a variety of brushes and other tools to ensure everything is kept as preserved as possible.
Even getting these items out of graves and into museums is a daunting task, with winches and hoists that must be moved very carefully to prevent them from breaking. And sometimes, it can actually be quite tense to watch this.
These are exciting developments, but pictures really can't do justice to Egypt's stunning beauty until you see it firsthand. Staring at The Great Pyramid, unable to see the top and shocked by the size of each individual rock is something that will stick with anyone else who has seen this first hand.
Sometimes Unknown: The Lost Pyramid loses this majestic charm with an overly stylized aesthetic that actually doubles down on the music. The show's opening intro is particularly egregious, with ghostly voices and a huge spoiler about a discovery later in the movie, which is disappointing. One can't help but feel that the movie would have done much better if this had been cut out entirely.
However, the format of switching between two different archaeological groups means there's always something to see, while the various diagrams, time-lapses and animated schematics over the different sites help give an idea of the scale and size of the excavations. . This is an endearing and fascinating watch, and perfect for anyone intrigued by the secrets and history of Egypt.
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