Ratings: 3.5/5
Under Paris is a visually stunning documentary that explores the hidden world beneath the City of Light. The film takes viewers on a captivating journey through the underground tunnels, caverns, and sewers of Paris, revealing a side of the city few ever see. This movie earns a solid 3.5 stars out of 5.
Plot
Under Paris follows Sophia, who is haunted by the loss of her entire crew to a giant shark. Three years later, the same shark’s GPS tag resurfaces in Paris’s canals, prompting Sophia to track it down. She faces resistance from politicians who doubt her, and a shark protection group that insists sharks are not violent.
Despite the challenges, Sophia perseveres. When the shark washes up on the banks of the Seine three years later, she sets aside personal grudges to ensure the shark is safely returned to the sea.
Review
In the prologue, Sophia Assalas (Bérénice Bejo), an oceanographer specializing in marine ecosystems, is introduced. She and her team have been studying the rapid growth of a female shark named Lilith near a large Pacific Ocean garbage patch. However, their research expedition turns tragic when Lilith attacks, resulting in the loss of Sophia’s entire team, including her husband Chris (Yannick Choirat).
Three years later, a grieving Sophia is now giving tours at a Paris aquarium. One day, 20-year-old Mika (Léa Léviant), the passionate leader of the Save Our Seas Collective, approaches her. This underground group of young environmentalists, inspired by Sophia’s work, has been tracking Lilith using an old beacon once utilized by Sophia’s team. Skeptical at first, Sophia eventually verifies the beacon’s signals with her old tracking equipment and realizes Mika is right.
From there, director Gens builds the tension, introducing key supporting characters such as Adil Faez (Nassim Lyes), a skeptical Sergeant with the Paris River Police, and the haughty Paris mayor (Anne Marvin), who is more concerned with the upcoming city triathlon than any potential shark threat.
The film’s cinematography is breathtaking, and Bérénice Bejo delivers a compelling performance as Sophia, adding depth and class to the film. Nassim Lyes also stands out in his role as the river police commander.
