In the spring of 2020, when all of Europe – and not only – was under quarantine, a group of filmmakers set off to plow the Mediterranean Sea, following the routes of mammals, fish and birds. Preparing for filming, they thought they would have to “chat” between tankers, fishing boats and cruise ships – after all, the Mediterranean basin is the busiest waterway on the planet.

At last they found before them the calmest sea since… antiquity. “There were no tourists, no large number of ships, little regular traffic. It was the perfect moment for us, allowing us to record unique material,” says Fred Fuget, the eminent French documentary filmmaker who signed “Mediterranean Sea: A Sea Under Siege”. tells the stories of the creatures of the Mediterranean in a way: “A year has preceded the scientific study of the biodiversity of the Mediterranean, and on the basis of this we have written the stories of these creatures.”

A stork crosses the Strait of Gibraltar in search of its mate. The big-headed turtle travels 3,000 miles to lay its eggs off the coast of Saiparis. A whale teaches her cub to fish off the coast of Italy. However, ubiquitous human activity puts these age-old constants to the test. The situation is critical in some cases, but Fugue ends each vignette of the documentary on an optimistic note.

“Greece is just fantastic, it’s a biodiversity hotspot in the Mediterranean,” says creator Fred Fuget.

“I think there is reason to hope. In recent years, everything has been going in the right direction, and nature is incredibly resilient. It only takes five years to protect the territory, and life will miraculously return. In the documentary, we did not want to show just an image of darkness and destruction. When you reach out to the general public, you must show hope to move them to action.”

However, the truth is that some of the (otherwise charming) images will make your stomach churn. A huge shoal of tuna is strategically directed into the arms of the nets, and on the surface, five or six fishing boats create an impenetrable cordon. The sea turns red. While the “game” is still in the water, the camera shoots everything at close range. “Such shootings require good preparation. You have to approach the fishermen, show them the scenario and explain what you want to do. Once you gain trust, you move forward,” Fuge explains.

Other times, again, nature itself offers the biggest thrills. A pod of dolphins is led by a matriarch. With skin torn by years and battles, the latter is increasingly losing orientation. It seems that she has forgotten about the sea routes, once clear to her. However, her children are here helping her. “The latest study shows us that dolphins can suffer from dementia, just like humans. We tried to find such a case, and we succeeded. The relationship between the matriarch and the rest of the group was also almost human.”

Most of the filming of “Mediterranean” took place in our country, which made the best impression on the creators. “Greece is fantastic, it’s a biodiversity hotspot in the Mediterranean. We filmed in about 20 locations, in the Cyclades, Sporades, Peloponnese. We are talking about heaven, both for nature and for the director.”