A co-produced documentary showcasing China's Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, one of the world's most complex sea-crossing infrastructure projects, premiered in Paris on September 23, drawing applause from French audiences and critics alike.
Titled Pont Tunnel Shenzhong: La Liaison Maritime de Tous les Défis ("Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link: The Sea Route of Challenges"), the film was jointly created by China's Guangdong Shengping Media and France's Ah! Production. It was screened at the Paris China Cultural Center, attracting media professionals, cultural figures, and local residents.
The 52-minute documentary traces the construction of the 24-kilometer bridge-tunnel hybrid, which connects Shenzhen and Zhongshan across the Pearl River Delta. Using 6K cameras, underwater drones, and CGI effects, the film captures dramatic moments—such as submerging giant pipeline sections into the seabed and raising bridge towers.
"We see not only advanced technology, but also the greatness of ordinary people," one Parisian viewer remarked after the screening. Another noted, "The tunnel scenes were breathtaking. This documentary helped me understand the wisdom and perseverance of Chinese builders".
The collaboration began in 2023 when the Chinese team presented early footage at the Sunside Documentary Festival in La Rochelle. French producers from RMC Découverte—a channel known for engineering content—initiated contact, leading to a formal agreement in 2024.
Rather than simply translating the original Chinese series, the teams restructured the narrative over two years, incorporating European perspectives and technical comparisons. "We overcame a six-hour time difference and language barriers through 30 rounds of revisions," said He Haokun, the Chinese co-director.
Benoît Poisson, the French director, emphasized shared values: "Despite cultural differences, both sides demonstrated a common dedication to professional storytelling".
The documentary already aired in France on RMC Découverte in May and has been distributed to broadcasters in Canada, Australia, Italy, and the Czech Republic.
Author | Feng Huiting
Photo | ZSNEWS.CN
Editor | Liu Lingzhi, James Campion, Shen He
