Written and directed by Laura McGann, a champion and an expert safety diver seemed destined for one another despite the different paths they took to meet at the pinnacle of the free-diving world. The Deepest Breath explores the thrilling rewards and inescapable risks of chasing dreams through the depths of the ocean. Starring: Stephen Keenan and Alessia Zecchini.
It may be difficult for your average person to relate to the desire of pushing your body and mind to its limits while plunging through dark, vacuous depths of water, but it’s not hard to understand Alessia Zecchini’s goal to be the best. She’s fiercely competitive but in a refreshing change of pace, is an athlete who sees the value in how her competitors push her creating a positive, if very charged, atmosphere. The first half of the film is dedicated to exploring what type of people Stephen Keenan and Alessia Zecchini are. Showing audiences how driven, confident and committed they had to be to find themselves within the dangerous world of free-diving. It’s interesting to watch but the second half of the film is undoubtedly where it really comes into its own.
When the film finally reaches the moment of diving into the relationship between Keenan and Zecchini, it elevates The Deepest Breath because everything becomes more intensified. Particularly the emotions at play, from the moving nature of their connection to the trepidation of watching these athletes attempt depths that have had fatal consequences for other divers. It’s also sincerely touching to see the unending admiration and respect that so many people have for Keenan, portraying the huge impact he had on their community. The film’s pacing and progression may not be the strongest at first but as it does move forward, it’s building an emotional foundation for a poignant, tearjerker of an ending.
One of the things that will not be a surprise to anyone is the amount of high quality, stunning visuals in The Deepest Breath. The underwater shots are an absolute pleasure to watch unfold, they also do a brilliant job of enhancing each different emotion that the scenes have to offer. Whether that be determination, fear, danger or wonder. There’s a great blend of styles, with those very structured, purposeful underwater scenes, then a lot of candid, home-video style footage and archive pieces to fill out their story. It creates an atmosphere which has a personal touch, there’s an intimacy to it, rather than simply viewing the subjects as an observer, trying to make you feel part of their story.
The Deepest Breath is a moving, compelling story of determination and admiration. Not only is it filled with courage and bravery, with its subjects taking on challenges many would call them crazy for, but there’s a simple, strong and loving connection between two people at its heart. It takes a bit of time for it to find its footing but once it does, it’s all smooth sailing through a rather rocky story. There’s no way you’re coming out of this without shedding a few tears.
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