Lo desconocido: La pirámide perdida

It is odd that Zahi Hawass decries the looting colonial archaeologists of Egypts recent past while styling himself on Indiana Jones, opossibly the worst example fo the kind. It's never easy watching his self-publicising style but there is no doubt of the passion he feels for his country's past or of the value (as portrayed in this film) of the Egyptians themseves taking the lead in excavating their past.

Two projects are followed each delivering differently for their lead archaeologists and the different reactions of Waziri and Hawass paint an interesting contrast.

Perhaps more problematic for those that believe in archaeology as a unifying discipline, is the political dimension and the way in which the film looks more like a quest for artefacts and glory than for answers in spite of this being a criticism that these current excavators level at their predecessors.

There is a film to be made about the changes in scholarship as peoples explore their own heritage, but this isn't it. There is also a film to be made about the challenges of the archaeology of early dynastic Egypt and this isn't that either.

It looks beautiful though.

This isn't about Egypt and her historical mysteries. It's about her extremely egotistical head of antiquities Dr Zahi Hawass. He's absolutely insufferable. I understand having pride in your nations history however his way of going about it is more about him and his love for himself than the good of Egyptian archaeology. He is the extreme opposite of early archaeology, the era of foreign excavators. He hogs everything for himself and refuses to work with others. He needs to find a middle ground and stop making it the Hawass show. Egypt deserves better than him. The world deserves better.

Besides Hawaas and the obviously staged aspects of the show it does let you glimpse into the beauty that is and was Egypt. For that it gets 4 stars.

Unfortunately this 'documentary' suffers the same fate as many Netflix funded so-called 'documentaries'.

The actual real content relating to the title is scant, and superfluous fillers are aplenty.

Relatively little substance is said of the "lost pyramid" and the pharaoh Huni linked to this pyramid.

A lot is made of unimportant visuals and scenes and people related to the 'project' including some really tenuous ones. I won't be surprised if it included interviews of Dr Hawass tea lady or driver - thankfully at least that didn't happen.

Compared to the many solid documentaries made of Egyptian pharaonic history, this one is empty and light as a helium party balloon that has no pop.

Loved every second of it. I have always been fascinated by Egyptology, and especially anything involving Dr. Zahi Hawass. His fight to bring the glory of Egypt back to the Egyptian people is so honourable and you truly sense the pride everyone involved has for their country and their history.

This finds here are nothing short of astonishing, many things I have never ever seen before in any other documentary. I don't want to overhype but truly wild.

On top of all of that, the cinematography was absolutely stunning. Whether in the tombs themselves in those tight, tiny corners or overlooking the incredible Egyptian landscapes at sunset, the DOP's on this shoot did an amazing job in some very difficult circumstances.

If you're into Egyptology at all, highly recommend!

I have more questions then answers about this whole story after watching How and why did the pyramid get lost?

Who was Huni and why was he important?

Why are these finds important other then to stroke the ego of the main guy?

There was a lot of info squished into the documentary that should have been explained better.

Also it turned me off right at start when he complained about "foreigners" if it wasn't for these foreigners there would be no Egyptologist or frankly many digs as they finance most of them There are more then a few scenes where its all about him and his legacy then about what they found.

Would never watch a documentary featuring this guy again.