Pretty sure I saw a full length documentary on it on Arte. Might have been about the failed attempt at drilling the canal by the french though, it was a while ago. Anyway it seems they are making a new one, set to air soon :

https://distribution.arte.tv/fiche/PANAMA_L_EXPLOIT_DES_ANTILLAIS

Edit : yeah I’m pretty sure this is the one I saw : https://m.imdb.com/title/tt1652396/