'Life of Pi' Paris Pool Premiere Becomes Reality — Audiences Must Wear Life Jackets to Board

Reported by You T-Ru / Comprehensive Reporting

Recently, a photo of 'Life of Pi' being screened in a swimming pool at Paris’s Pailleron Pool went viral online. This 'Life of Pi' premiere, which many netizens wondered "how it could possibly happen," became a reality on the evening of December 7th, French time. 20th Century Fox released footage of the event online, showing audiences actually wearing life jackets and 3D glasses, experiencing Pi's "life of fantasy" in a pool filled with water.


▲Audiences wear life jackets and 3D glasses to experience Pi's "life of fantasy" in a pool filled with water. (Photo / from YouTube)

Audiences can not only enjoy a 3D movie from their seats, but can even board boats to feel the swaying sensation of Pi out at sea. This premiere, jointly organized by 20th Century Fox and the Paris municipal government, redefined the movie-watching experience by screening the film in the historic Pailleron Pool in Paris’s 19th arrondissement. Attendees could enter a lottery to win a spot, and only the lucky winners were able to "board and watch."


▲Staff slide boats into the water from both the poolside and in the water. (Photo / from YouTube)



▲The boats are tied together with ropes, and pillows are added onboard for comfort. (Photo / from YouTube)

Footage shows that, contrary to rumors, the pool water was not drained for safety reasons. Instead, the boats’ stability was enhanced by tying them together with ropes. Staff members slid around 20 boats into position in and around the pool, then laid down non-slip red carpets around the pool and set up the movie screen.

Before the screening began, audiences were already waiting outside to enter. After registration at the entrance, the organizers handed out life jackets and 3D glasses. With assistance from multiple staff members, audiences boarded the small boats tied together with ropes. During the screening, the entire pool vibrated along with the sound effects, breaking the boundaries of traditional 3D viewing and adding to the immersive, fantastical experience.


▲The condition of the pool before the audience entered. (Photo / from YouTube)


▲Staff guiding audiences onto the boats. (Photo / from YouTube)


▲Documentary footage of the French premiere. (Video / from YouTube)