Netflix recently released the film "In the Depths of the River" or "Under Paris," coinciding with French preparations for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The connection between the two events might seem odd at first glance, but upon examining the film's plot, the common link is revealed: the Seine River.
Due to reports indicating high pollution levels in the river, which will host major sporting events for the first time, French officials, led by President Emmanuel Macron, have expressed their readiness to swim in the river to prove its cleanliness. Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra was seen on camera swimming in the river alongside Alexis Hanquinquant, one of the French flag bearers at the Olympic Games, appearing as a reassurance message for participants and demonstrating the water quality of the Seine.
French media noted that the film's release was not coincidental but timed with the preparation for the historic event in Paris. The film's plot revolves around a biologist named Sofia, who receives a warning from an environmental activist about a giant shark in the Seine that threatens to turn the global event into a river of blood. The protagonist, along with a team of river police, works to eliminate the shark and save the summer games.
Concerns regarding the Seine's flow and pollution levels persist, prompting the monitoring group "Eaux de Paris" to conduct daily water quality tests. In this context, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo is scheduled to swim in the Seine on Wednesday, fulfilling a promise she made. Hidalgo plans to swim in a section of the river alongside the majestic City Hall and Notre-Dame Cathedral as part of a broader effort to showcase the river’s cleanliness improvements.
Despite being a repeated promise from politicians, swimming in the Seine has been prohibited for over a century. Former French President Jacques Chirac made a similar commitment in 1988 when he was Mayor of Paris, but it was never realized. The Seine will host several open water swimming events during the Olympics, including the marathon swim and Olympic and Paralympic triathlon races.
