Deep Blue

Synopsis: More is known about the surface of the moon than about the deepest parts of the ocean. This astonishing film, more like a symphonic poem combining cinematography and musical orchestration, takes us on a journey from the depths of the ocean where no light penetrates, up to the surfaces where drama plays out at every moment, to the shores where ocean meets earth, and lets us experience the awesome majesty that is the deep blue sea, which makes up two thirds of our planet.

For anyone who loved the BBC series The Blue Planet, or revelled in the insect world of Microcosmos or the winged extravaganza, Travelling Birds, this is a film not to be missed.

This documentary is refreshing for its lack of reliance upon narration, what little there is being beautifully voiced by Michel Gambon. The film attempts rather to create an emotional response to the ocean, and this it achieves by the total awesomeness of its footage, the breadth of shooting locations, and the inspiring musical accompaniment. Composer George Fenton, who scored Gandhi wrote the music, which at all times is a perfect complement to the visuals on screen and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra played it for their first-ever movie score.

Some of the segments range from the opening sequence of overpowering surf with dolphins surfing a massive pipeline; albatrosses in the windswept Falklands; killer whales feeding on hapless sea lion pups; an army of soldier crabs scuttling to the beat of a Latin salsa tune; glorious technicolour coral reefs; polar bears and hardy penguins existing in the frozen extremes of the earth; and a journey to some of the deepest parts of the ocean where grotesque monsters and neon-lit creatures lurk. And this is only part of it.

Deep Blue was nearly nine years in the making with 40 cameramen, 3000 days in the field and 200 locations. What a feat! And even better, it doesn't use digital effects except for one recreation of the ocean at its deepest point, the Marianna's Trench, where no craft can reach. Despite its PG rating certain scenes could be upsetting for very small people - the brutal cycle of predator and prey, life and death, is played out in many of the scenes, and the raw elemental power of the sea can border on the terrifying at times.

Without barely a hint of preaching, the film is so impressive it can't help but leave us painfully aware that we'd better protect this precious resource and its inhabitants.

 

 

Want more about this film?

    

Want something different?