# Eldorado: A New Series Depicting the French Sniffing Planes Scandal Arte explores the 1970s oil industry fraud through a lens of human delusion. - **Source:** [Ouest-France](https://www.ouest-france.fr) - **Published:** 2026-11-11 - **Topic:** [entertainment](https://brifing.si/c/entertainment) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/69737af6-5a8e-40cf-9866-9d660e40e705 ## Historical Scandal Adaptation The new six-episode series Eldorado, premiering on arte.tv this November, dramatizes the infamous French sniffing planes scandal of the late 1970s. Directed by Louis Farge, the show features actors Jérémie Renier and Karim Leklou. It explores the bizarre premise of detecting underground oil deposits from aircraft using gravitational waves during an energy crisis. ## The Sniffing Planes Premise Set in 1976, the narrative follows a Belgian aristocrat who claims to have developed a miracle technology for locating water and oil from the air. A representative from the company Elf Aquitaine becomes captivated by this invention. The plot centers on the pursuit of this unproven method to drill for massive oil reserves. ## Psychology of Collective Delusion Director Louis Farge emphasizes that the series is not merely a heist story but a study of belief and reality denial. He portrays the characters as dreamers who knowingly head toward disaster. The show examines why intelligent individuals become trapped by their own illusions, driven by the intense pressure of the oil industry. ## Award-Winning Performances Karim Leklou received the Best Actor award at the Séries Mania festival in Lille in March 2026 for his portrayal of an ambitious industrialist. His character is deeply convinced of the invention's validity despite its scientific impossibility. This performance anchors the series, highlighting the dangerous intersection of blind ambition and corporate greed. ## Modern Parallels and Influence The creators draw parallels between the 1970s scandal and contemporary figures like Elon Musk, who wield immense power through singular ideas. The series explores how influential individuals can shape global narratives simply by projecting a vision. This modern perspective adds a layer of depth to the historical events depicted in the show. ## Balancing History and Fiction Louis Farge, who previously directed the series Culte, aims to maintain historical precision while offering a modern, reflective tone. He avoids simple reenactment, instead focusing on the human flaws of the protagonists. This approach allows the audience to understand the era while engaging with the universal themes of betrayal and capitalist ambition. ## Broadcast and Production Details The series will be broadcast on Arte across two evenings, specifically on November 19 and 26. The production team, including authors Tarek Haoudy and Nacim Mehtar, spent significant time researching the era's atmosphere. The show aims to bring this largely forgotten scandal back into the public consciousness through a high-stakes narrative format. ## The Human Need to Believe Ultimately, Eldorado serves as a commentary on the human condition and the necessity of belief. By juxtaposing idealism against the cold machinery of the oil industry, the series highlights the fragility of truth. It invites viewers to reflect on how easily society can be misled by the promise of a miracle. ## Sources covering this story - https://programmetv.ouest-france.fr/chaines/programme-tv-arte-111/eldorado-lhistoire-dun-scandale-francais-de-haute-volee-8a6443da-d908-11f1-b736-5b9907ef0b5a?utm_source=fluxpublicactu&utm_medium=fluxrss&utm_campaign=banquedecontenu — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._