The Abyss, now streaming on Netflix, tells the traumatic tale of a Swedish town, Kiruna, struck by a terrible and devastating seismic shift that causes havoc in the small mining village. It’s at least partially a true story inspired by an earthquake that occurred in the real-life town, however, plenty of artistic license has been taken to make the story work better as a feature-length movie.
Is The Abyss a true story?
The Abyss is a true story to a certain extent. The film takes its inspiration from the real-life Kiruna mine disaster, but the narrative is fictional, and many of the events depicted in the film are not true and have been invented for dramatic purposes.
In May 2020, Kiruna would be in the process of relocating due to the seismic activity that was threatening the area, when an earthquake would occur due to the mining practices. This event is the basis for the Netflix movie. Previously, the nature of the damage that could occur was very well documented by those involved with the mine and would lead to an ongoing re-development project, with the center of the town slowly being moved three kilometers to the East, with over 20 major buildings in the area being relocated.
What is the main problem in Kiruna?
The earthquake that occurred in Kiruna was not natural, but instead a consequence of the excessive mining activity. Kiruna has the largest deposit of rare earth metals in Europe, and the mining operation based around it was the largest and most modern in iron ore mine in the world.
Where is the series based?
The Abyss is based in the Swedish town of Kiruna, which is home to the largest iron ore underground mine in the world. Located in the far North of Sweden, Kiruna is close to the three-way border that encompasses Norway, Sweden, and Finland. The chilly Arctic landscape is beautiful and magical, and it is well known as a destination for viewing the fabled Northern lights.
Direct Behind the series
The Abyss is directed by Richard Holm who has had quite a long career in film and TV. Recently he has done extensive work on TV shows such as The Machinery and Gassmamman. Holm is also a writer and worked on other projects such as the TV series Heder before making The Abyss.
Is Frigga a real character?
In The Abyss, Frigga is the head of security at the mine as disaster strikes. Frigga has a family and struggles to try and save them as well as the rest of the town, and her struggle makes her the centerpiece of the movie. Frigga is a fictional character that was written to give the viewer a perspective on the events as they unfold. Her struggle to balance her family life and work is mirrored by the disaster that strikes the town, with both aspects of Frigga’s life crumbling beneath her feet as she fights to survive.
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