User reviews

I often find myself deeply fascinated by people's passions, at the same time it sometimes frightens me the idea of how the obsession with passion can possibly be the end of you literally and figuratively. What does it really take to go after your passion? And how willing are you to sacrifice for it?

I watched this documentary without any knowledge of freediving or the story and it immediately grabbed my attention right from the opening scene, that itself kept me on the edge

It's such an interesting element of the story structure how stunning they capture the concept to be as an extreme sport, yet how dangerous of an endeavor it actually is. It shows you both sides of the athlete's obsession about it and the lengths they go for it, which leaves you questioning wanting to understand the depths of satisfaction beyond passion given their lives are at dangerous risks knowingly.

The cinematography was stunning, incredible archival footage! It takes you through the diver's journeys from top to underwater beautifully it's sometimes scary. The interviews were heartfelt and informative enough for you to understand a bit of the extreme sport, while at the same time, it maintained sensations and delivered emotionally making you feel for the tragedy and how their story intertwined in destiny.

Wow this movie has to be the most heart touching, movies I have encountered in such a long time! Oh my goodness this documentary was just beautiful! I know im not the only who cried. I do not think I have ever cried to a documentary before, but i can down right tell you, this one is the first. Down to the pictures, the recorded footage, the recorded audio, actal people who were really there to experience every minute of the journey that took place, was just astonishing. I love how the timeline of the story was at a steady pace. It wasnt a drag nor did not seemed to leave any important parts out. It told a beautiful story. Just AMAZING!

Beautiful and profound and a celebration of love and life and living. It gripped me as much as Free Solo did in its edge of seat drama and tension. So cleverly structured and paced. I could sense its foreboding nature throughout but still could not anticipate the final heart wrenching outcome. Emotional and beautiful storytelling. Thank you for sharing this very personal story set against a beautiful score. I could not look away for a second and was transported into this unknown world, not experienced since The Big Blue. If you loved that film, this one will stay with you too. I will carry this story with me for a long time. Bravo!

Not A24's best film but it's still pretty good.

It's an interesting documentary about freediver Alessia Zecchini and Stephen Keenan on the goals, life, accomplishments and challenges they processes throughout her career with good insightful discussions and some gorgeous camerawork. Director Laura McGann does a pretty good job on capturing the career of Zecchini and maintaining the documentary's tone without feeling sloppy. The camerawork of the underwater sequences were absolutely gorgeous and beautiful. Documentaries about ocean life I always love because of the gorgeous production and shot compositions provided and The Deepest Breath does have some wonderful underwater scenes.

Throughout, there were some really good editing and emotional moments that were genuinely interesting and touching. The conversations between participants were insightful but admittedly there were a few discussion moments that felt a little dragged on. The soundtrack choices felt a little cheesy and some pacing could have improved. Overall, it's a pretty good documentary.

Just watched this.

I'm not a freediver, but as a rescue diver, I found this beautiful and intense, and I understand the feelings that moved Alessia and Stephen and many of the comments they made.

Also having been to Dahab, I know how beautiful, but also how dangerous it can be.

But I don't think you need to do any diving or love the sea at all to enjoy this story of living the moment and pushing your limits. At times stunning, at times anxiety-inducing, it's beautifully edited and it's a great story of two people finding their calling AND finding each other.

I ended the movie with a few tears and an even deeper appreciation for "carpe diem" and for the beauty of (and respect for) the ocean.

I strongly recommend it.

Captivating storytelling. The filming technique was spectacular. What impressed me most was how the mass collection of varying sources were orchestrated so seamlessly. After watching, my immediate reaction was of bitterness towards Alessia Zecchini. My interpretation of how the movie portrayed her was as an immature, selfish, attention-seeking person. It was disappointing for me not to hear her say she loved Stephen Keenan. I unfairly judged her based on my skewed perception of her portrayal. Even if I had been there, I have no right to judge. The guilt she felt must have been gutting to say the least. I sincerely hope others are kind to her and don't perceive the character she was portrayed as the way I did.

There's much to love about free diving, but you won't find it in this film. The subjects have so much ego, are so competitive and goal-oriented that they degrade what coule be an art, or even a spiritual practice, into just another dumb extreme sport.

The only people with an iota of self-reflection or wisdom are the characters fathers, which is kind of suprising considering how free diving can be a transcendental experience.

The sea is just a backdrop for their ambitions and awards. No mention of the physiology of freediving, the the cultures in which it is tradtionally practiced, the stunning (and threatened) marine environments where they dive. It might as well be a documentary about tennis or golf.

I had never even heard of the sport of free diving before watching this documentary. The idea is to see how deep you can dive on a single breath. From childhood, Italian diver, Alessia Zecchini is obsessed with the sport and with chasing the world record dive. Restless Irish adventurer, Stephen Keenan becomes a renowned safety diver in Dahab, Egypt. The two meet during a competition there and develop a romantic relationship. They attempt to dive the notorious Blue Hole which has already taken many lives. The film makes it clear that there will be a tragedy but cleverly holds off on the nature of it until near the end which adds a nice element of suspense and surprise.

In some ways the film is a portrait of the tragedy that obsession can bring. Watching the divers black out due to the loss of oxygen to the brain only to be revived again for another attempt leaves you wondering why people would put themselves through it and how free diving can be seen as a legitimate sport with such evident risk involved. Writer, director, and cinematographer Laura McGann (who covered roller derby in the 2016 documentary Revolutions) skilfully weaves together a compelling portrait of the human need to push oneself to (and beyond) the limits of physical endurance. She also highlights the deep personal connections among the competitors, judges, trainers, and safety divers for whom the deepest breath is only a moment away from the last breath.

Like one reviewer already posted, if you liked Free Solo, you will love this.

A wonderful story of achievement, life, love, friendship and selflessness that also includes the sport of free diving.

We are taken in personal story(ies) about free diving, the dangers and the rewards of such an extreme sport.

What it takes to beat and set world records.

The love for the sport it clearly shows, as the love for the the sea and adventure.

At certain point you can guess where it leads, but you are not going to discover how until the very end.

I couldn't look away. I was hooked. At certain point, I was feeling empathy and my heart was beating slowly, like I was holding my breath.

I love this kind of documentaries. The personal stories, the home videos, the intimacy we start to feel.

In my opinion, it is well written and directed. All the things appear are at the precise time.

What it means to be selfless and a hero.

What a wonderful story ! Thank you.

This emotional documentary film dives deep, not only into the ocean, but also deep into our souls.

What does it mean to have the deepest kind of love? This film covers it in many ways, through real characters.

For a parent who deeply loves a child, it may be to set a child free to discover his/her true passions in life.

For any person who tries to find deep meaning in life, you may feel lost many times before you find your true calling.

For those of us who have experienced deep love, we are moved by the sacrifice and selflessness that has been given to us.

Searching for our deepest love, finding it, enjoying it, losing it...this film helps us understand the triumphs and tragedies of life, and in the end, hope. Because when you see the deepest kind of love, it's a celebration of the best aspects of humanity.

Another documentary, The Rescue (2021, National Geographic), evokes similar feelings and emotions.

The whole team that participated in this documentary, including the director, editor, music as well as all the real people...thank you for making this.

Where to begin. First, the biggest structural mistake in a documentary is to treat the audience as stupid. This documentary does that tremendously well. 10/10 for that.

It frames everything with a build up to a climax, only to bait and switch the climax on the assumption you dont know the story or you wouldnt look it up prior to watching. In this day and age its a cardinal sin to assume this. Its also why a documentary like Senna is one of the greats. Kapadia doesnt assume the audience is stupid and everyone knows the end, so its more about the journey. Here, its as though youre taken on one journey only to fall down a "lets pretend secret" trapdoor. 0/10.

Second main flaw is the main character isnt very likeable and that seems to be the case from start to finish. 0/10.

Otherwise it was well made. This is where the 5 marks came from.

Ps. What an utterly stupid activity.

Moved me in an uncommon way and I've been a paramedic since 2001. It's an amazing journey and I can't say enough for the production & direction. This was done in a way honoring all involved. Perfect. Simply perfect. I'm a documentary fan and love learning about others lives & what's out there. What shocked me is how incredible this material was put together and to tell this tale of love & loss. But yet unimaginable hope & love permeates the film. All I can say is they got it right. And that happens less often theses days. It's worth the time & them sum. I already want to rewatch it with my daughter.

A beautiful story about living life's passions and for some those passions come with great risk. It's not for us to judge their decision to undertake such a risky sport but to recognize this is what for some give them a true appreciation of life itself.

There is a budding love story cut far too short but I think will echo in the hearts and minds of the people who bore witness to it and an act of unconditional love and self sacrifice that is beautiful in its tragedy.

As the film reaches its conclusion I truly felt short of breath as you know something tragic is impending and there is nothing you can do but wait for it. It's not an easy film to watch but an important one.