Tune in this Saturday, September 19 at 8:50 PM on Arte to discover Gil Kebaïli’s new documentary on the latest expedition of biologist Laurent Ballesta: Planet Mediterranean.

« When ecology seems to be a lost cause, exploration and conservation become the noblest of battles. If we want to keep dreaming, we must first lose our illusions. In light of my previous expeditions, I believe this project is both the most ambitious and the closest, since it takes place in the Mediterranean. In terms of technical and sporting achievements, this is a world first. I’ve been waiting 18 years to have such exploration capabilities. » Laurent BallestaAfter diving with the coelacanth in South Africa, studying the reproduction of groupers and the hunting of grey sharks in French Polynesia, exploring the deep waters of Antarctica, marine biologist and underwater photographer Laurent Ballesta led a new major expedition in the Mediterranean (Gombessa V) in July 2019. The documentary traces this unique mission, where for 28 days, from Marseille to Monaco, Laurent Ballesta and his 3 teammates lived confined in a 5m^2 chamber to explore the 100-meter depth zone without time limits and to reveal the lush and still little-known depths of the Mediterranean. A human, technical, and scientific challenge.

Planet Mediterranean

A documentary by Gil Kebaïli, 1h35
An expedition by Laurent Ballesta narrated by Ludivine Sagnier and Laurent Ballesta
A co-production of Arte France, Les gens bien productions, Andromède océanologie with the support of Blancpain.

Broadcast on Arte on September 19, 2020 at 8:50 PM and already available on arte.tv, until November 17.

Documentaries of previous expeditions are also available on replay. Gombessa II – The Grouper Mystery et Gombessa III – Antarctica Following The Emperor until February 28, 2021 and Gombessa IV – 700 Sharks In The Night until November 10, 2020.

Opening image © Jordi Chias, Gombessa 5 Expeditions