The Netflix series The Palm It arrived last week on the streaming platform and has quickly become among the most viewed in a large number of countries. What not many know is that the series is inspired by a real geological event that shook the Canary Islands in 2021. The film production, directed by Kasper Barfoed, is based on the volcanic eruption of Cumbre Vieja, but builds a fictional story that is significantly separated from the original events.
The concrete facts show that the eruption actually occurred between September and December 2021. However, contrary to the dramatized version, the authorities achieved an effective evacuation that avoided human losses. The real impact was mainly material: more than two thousand homes destroyed and a considerable blow to the local economy, especially in the agricultural sector of banana plantations.
Watch the trailer for La Palma:
The story introduces speculative elements not supported by the scientific community. Geologists dismiss the possibility of a mega tsunami, as suggested by the serie. The chances of a total collapse of the volcanic mountain are practically zero, according to specialists, who estimate that such an event would not occur for at least ten thousand years.
The series of Netflix amplifies potential risks, generating a narrative of tension and catastrophe. The characters of Álvaro and Marie are a fictional construction that takes elements from reality but transforms them dramatically, generating a story with high emotional impact that distances itself from real events.
The production used the 2021 eruption as a backdrop to build a suspenseful plot. Local authorities faced real challenges in managing the emergency, but not with the level of conflict shown in the series.
Beyond the search for entertainment, The Palm proposes a reflection on the relationship between human beings and nature. Although the story is dramatized, it manages to establish a conversation about environmental risks and the unpredictability of natural phenomena among viewers of Netflix.
