Survive (original title: Survivre) is a French sci-fi thriller directed by Frédéric Jardin, released in 2024. The film follows a family of four—Julia (Émilie Dequenne), a doctor; Tom (Andreas Pietschmann), an oceanographer; and their children, Cassie (Lisa Delamar) and Ben (Lucas Ebel)—who embark on a yacht trip to celebrate Ben’s 13th birthday in the Caribbean. Their idyllic voyage takes a catastrophic turn when a violent storm strikes, leading to the sudden disappearance of the ocean. The Earth’s magnetic poles have reversed, causing the seas to drain and leaving the family stranded on a barren desert landscape .
As they navigate this surreal and hostile environment, the family encounters various dangers, including predatory creatures from the deep and a lone, hostile survivor. The narrative explores themes of survival, sacrifice, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of an apocalyptic event .
The film is noted for its intense performances, particularly by Dequenne, and its atmospheric cinematography, which effectively conveys the desolation of the transformed world. While some critics have pointed out pacing issues and character development concerns, Survive has been praised for its emotional depth and unique take on the disaster genre.
