Coral reef

Coral reefs are diverse underwater ecosystems held together by calcium carbonate structures secreted by corals. Coral reefs are built by colonies of tiny animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps belong to a group of animals known as Cnidaria, which also includes sea anemones and jellyfish. Unlike sea anemones, corals secrete hard carbonate exoskeletons which support and protect the coral polyps. Most reefs grow best in warm, shallow, clear, sunny and agitated waters.

Often called "rainforests of the sea", shallow coral reefs form some of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth. They occupy less than 0.1% of the world's ocean surface, about half the area of France, yet they provide a home for at least 25% of all marine species, including fish, mollusks, worms, crustaceans, echinoderms, sponges, tunicates and other cnidarians.Paradoxically, coral reefs flourish even though they are surrounded by ocean waters that provide few nutrients. They are most commonly found at shallow depths in tropical waters, but deep water and cold water corals also exist on smaller scales in other areas.

Coral Reefs (film)

Coral Reefs (French title: Le Récif de corail) is a 1938 French language motion picture adventure drama directed by Maurice Gleize. The screenplay was written by Charles Spaak, based on novel by Jean Martet. The film stars Jean Gabin, Michèle Morgan, Pierre Renoir and Gina Manès.

It tells the story of a charged innocent Mexican sailor who escapes to a lagoon in the Pacific Ocean. He meets with a lonely girl in the woods, having an affair. However his current gunrunning operation is noticed by an earnest detective.

Plot

In the atmosphere fascinating of the southern continent, all their strengths fight in the seas of the south full of poetry and mystery, Trott and Lilian, wreckages tracked by the police, to win the coral reef, synonymous for them of quietude and new life.

Preservation

Long presumed to be lost, the film was sought after by Serge Bromberg who found a copy at the Yugoslav Film Archive in Belgrade in 2013. The film was then restored in coordination with the Archives françaises du film and re-released.