À la Poursuite des Pilleurs de Temples (2014)

In 1972, during Cambodia's civil war, a sandstone statue was torn from the age-old Koh Ker temple. Measuring 1.58m high and weighing 110 kilos, it depicts a prince and belongs to a collection that retraces the epic of the Mahabharata. The sculpture was first sold at auction in London in 1975, via a strange British art dealer based in Bangkok, and reappeared in 2011 at Sotheby's in New York with a bid of $2.5 million. A sale that was ultimately prohibited. In the meantime, experts from the École française d'Extrême-Orient, an American lawyer commissioned by Phnom Penh and UNESCO mobilized the Heritage Police across the Atlantic to denounce the theft of a cultural asset. In 2013, the work was returned to Cambodia. A captivating investigation into the international mafia of antiquities trafficking.

Director: Wolfgang Luck
Genre: Documentary
Release Date:
Production: SWR
Country: Germany
Language: Français
Original Language: fr

Keywords

cambodia, robber, tomb

More Films by Director: Wolfgang Luck
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is À la Poursuite des Pilleurs de Temples about?
In 1972, during Cambodia's civil war, a sandstone statue was torn from the age-old Koh Ker temple. Measuring 1.58m high and weighing 110 kilos, it depicts a prince and belongs to a collection that retraces the epic of the Mahabharata. The sculpture was first sold at auction in London in 1975, via a strange British art dealer based in Bangkok, and reappeared in 2011 at Sotheby's in New York with a bid of $2.5 million. A sale that was ultimately prohibited. In the meantime, experts from the École française d'Extrême-Orient, an American lawyer commissioned by Phnom Penh and UNESCO mobilized the Heritage Police across the Atlantic to denounce the theft of a cultural asset. In 2013, the work was returned to Cambodia. A captivating investigation into the international mafia of antiquities trafficking.
Who directed À la Poursuite des Pilleurs de Temples?
À la Poursuite des Pilleurs de Temples was directed by Wolfgang Luck.
What genre is À la Poursuite des Pilleurs de Temples?
À la Poursuite des Pilleurs de Temples is a Documentary film.
Where was À la Poursuite des Pilleurs de Temples produced?
À la Poursuite des Pilleurs de Temples was produced in Germany.