What’s under Paris?
One of the most popular films of this year was Under Paris (Sous la Seine), a French production written and directed by Xavier Gens. Although it seems like a European adaptation of Jaws, the main theme being environmental awareness and the fact that it was released before the Olympic Games were the factors that increased the interest in the film.
The film begins with Charles Darwin’s quote, “It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change” introducing marine biologist Sophia who studies the evolution of a shark nicknamed “Lilith” in the North Pacific Ocean. During a dive, Sophia’s entire team, including her husband, perishes in a tragic accident.
Three years later, the characters reemerge with new developments. Sophia, who had quit her job and moved to Paris after the accident, meets environmental activist Mika and learns that Lilith is now in Paris. Just a week before the Seine River Triathlon, Sophia must return to her work to prevent the potential massacre that Lilith could cause.
From the opening scenes, the film highlights severe ocean pollution observed in the Pacific Ocean and the Seine River. Scenes showing sharks’ stomachs filled with plastic starkly illustrate the severity of the pollution. The film skillfully portrays how climate change and pollution affect the nature and behavior of animals. Although it seems naturally impossible for sharks to adapt to freshwater, Paris’s rare ecosystem makes this possible for Lilith. This scenario reflects the struggle for survival in unusual and challenging environments for both animals and humans, the necessity to adapt to a changing world, and the need for new beginnings. The depiction of sharks giving birth in underground tombs symbolizes the will to find a way and start new life even in the darkest and most hopeless moments. Under the impact of environmental pollution and habitat loss, the sharks’ effort to survive in this new environment also mirrors human resilience and adaptability. This narrative emerges as a powerful metaphor emphasizing the strength to withstand life’s challenges and the ability to adapt. The sharks’ adaptation efforts underscore the importance of ecosystem conservation and environmental sustainability. It is essential for humans to adopt environmentally sensitive behaviors, prevent habitat loss, and embrace sustainability- based approaches to protect biodiversity. The sharks’ survival struggle in the film highlights the necessity of protecting natural habitats and minimizing the impact of human activities on the environment.
Another significant point is the indifferent attitude of the mayor, who refuses to cancel the Triathlon despite shark warnings from the river police. The mayor ignores the danger to people’s lives by insisting until the last moment that everything is fine. This attitude is a striking example of political environmental insensitivity. Under the pressure of current policies and economic interests, the mayor downplays the shark threat. Through rationalization and selective percep tion, he ignores scientific evidence and prioritizes reflection of the modern world. The greed for money overshadows the value of human life, while the voice of environmental sensitivity is increasingly muted. The mayor’s indifference symbolizes a distorted hierarchy of values not just of an individual but of a system. The film’s release year is significant in this context. Paris, hosting the 2024 Olympics, is widely discussed globally for the pollution concerns of the Seine River. The shark threat in the film symbolizes the real-life pollution threat. Contrary to the indifferent mayor in the film, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo swam in the Seine River on July 13 to end pollution allegations once and for all and prove there was no obstacle to the races.
Mika, one of the film’s important characters, symbolizes environmental activism with his deep connection to nature and environmental consciousness. The “Save our Seas” team, led by him, makes great sacrifices and engages in tough struggles to protect natural life. Mika cuts off the tracking signal to prevent the river police from finding Lilith. Mika’s efforts to save Lilith symbolize his determination in environmental protection and sensitivity to sustainability. His information campaign on social media raised awareness about Lilith’s situation, serving as a powerful call for action among the public. Mika, with his belief in the need to protect nature, takes significant risks and faces dangers to ensure the continuity of ecosystems. His efforts emphasize the importance of environmental consciousness and sustainability. Lilith, by nature, is an aggressive creature. When Mika and his team approach to transport her to the ocean, she is instinctively aggressive due to her natural behavior and recent birth. Ignoring Sophia’s warnings, Mika and his friends lose their lives in this operation. Mika’s tragic end highlights the challenges and dangers of environmental struggle, while his dedication to nature and environmental consciousness underscores how vital conservation efforts are. Mika emphasizes that humanity must live in harmony with nature and underscores the necessary sacrifices for this. His story shows that environmental protection is not just a necessity but also a lifestyle and an ethical responsibility. Mika reminds us that environmental protection efforts can only succeed through collective movement and societal awareness, not just individual efforts. In this regard, Mika stands out as a symbol of environmental activism and sustainable living.
The plan to kill Lilith and her offspring in the film parallels the euthanasia law for stray animals in Turkey, highlighting ethical dilemmas. Proponents of the law argue that stray animals pose a risk to human life, while the fairness of taking away animals’ right to life remains a significant debate. Although the law has been approved in parliament, it has not yet been enacted, offering a glimmer of hope. However, the scenario in the film genuinely harbors a massacre risk, dramatically reflecting the conflict between ensuring human safety and respecting the right to life of nature and animals. In both cases, a difficult balance exists between efforts to protect human life and the right to life for animals. This ethical paradox profoundly tests society’s values, ethical understanding, and sense of justice, showing how complex concepts of humanity and justice can be. Every nature lover who is interested in the sea can take this quiz on Netflix. Under Paris is a whirlwind of excitement and a lesson in environmentalism.