THE DEEPEST BREATH: Elegant But Deadly

There are films that become engaging from the moment they are announced – many times from their promotional photo alone. For Laura McGann‘s The Deepest Breath, nothing could be truer. The image of a diver, plunging to the depths of the ocean, with nothing more than a rope to teether her to the world above is breathtaking. Almost passing the mouth of the oceanic ridges, there is nothing but darkness below, the blues as tranquil as they are threatening. There is little given away in regard to the nature or angle of the documentary, just an image that leaves you intrigued to find out more.

Risking It All

The Deepest Breath begins exactly as it’s named – with the deepest breath. Viewers watch the meditative elegance of a free diver working their way to a marker below. As a wide lens captures her descent, the darkness below grows. There is no score, just the sound of water moving around her. As the diver reaches the platform below, she removes a tag and begins her ascent. There is no equipment other than a rope to aid her, and viewers are completely aware that her oxygen is dwindling with each passing second. As she makes her way back to the surface, the light grows, welcoming her back, safety divers accompanying her towards the finish. With the end in sight, trouble rises quickly as the diver appears to run out of air and blackout. As the safety divers grab her throat and push her to the surface, audiences will find themselves holding their breath in anticipation, unsure of what exactly is happening and if survival is possible. It is an effective opening, immediately locking you in as an invested and emotionally driven viewer.

As The Deepest Breath returns to the ocean below, it embraces an opening montage, the power of the water, and the film’s score merging with the imagery on the screen to create a captivating, serene, and ominous introduction. As the waves above clash in dramatic fashion, the ocean below seems peaceful, divers effortlessly moving through its beauty. With just the opening alone, The Deepest Breath manages to beautifully capture the essence of a sport in one of the most dangerous arenas in the world.

McMann extends her elegant touch as she brings to life the lives of Alessia Zucchini and Stephen  Keenan. Through an amalgamation of talking heads, archived footage, home videos, and recreations, McGann captures the individual journeys of her subjects, one on the path to breaking records as a free diver, the other a traveling spirit in search of himself and his path in life. McMann balances well the alternation between the two stories, giving each the time to be fleshed out and flourish before viewers, all while consistently moving the documentary forward.

The Deepest Breath finds the ability to go deep under the skin, refusing to let go as the credits begin to play. There is an emotional investment that sneaks up on you, making the film’s runtime feel like a breeze. Wildly engaging, audiences will find themselves holding their breath more than once, the risk of the sport and the heavy weight of the film’s revelation pushing you forward for more. As you watch Alessia push the limits of her body and mind, the sport’s risk increases like the pressure she has dived head-first into.

Conclusion

There is such an elegance within the filming of The Deepest Breath and the sport itself that director and writer Laura McGann is able to capture. For many, it will be a cathartic journey of risk and reward, while for others the sacrifice of love and success. A quiet, poignant, and moving documentary, The Deepest Breath is unforgettable.

The Deepest Breath is now streaming on Netflix!

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