THE DIVE, Germany, 2023. Starring Louisa Krause, Sophie Lowe. Directed by Maximilian Erlenwein. 91 minutes. No classification available.
It is probably a good sign of the times to have women protagonists in action adventures that used to be the prerogative of men only. In recent years, women have featured in underwater adventures, such as this one or in mountain climbing challenges. The Dive, filmed in Malta, with some spectacular cliff scenery, and underwater Mediterranean photography (as well as in studio tanks), has two sisters driving to a remote location for scuba diving.
The premise of the story is simple, as well as being possible. There is always this kind of risk. The two sisters are exploring, there is an underwater shower of rocks, one of the sisters being trapped, her leg caught by a substantial force. For the sisters, and for the audience, there are questions of the amount of air available, how to lift the rock and free the leg, and whether there is anyone around (in fact, there is a church with a large cross, and some Catholic imagery, but no one there). What about the timing, the energy of the sister who has to perform all the steps for the rescue, the pressure on her, the worry. And, the fate of the woman trapped below the ocean surface.
This is an international film. It is a German production with a German diretor. One of the sisters is played by Louisa Krause, an American actress, the other by Sophie Lowe, from Australia. And the dialogue is in English. It is based on a 2020 Norwegian film, Breaking Surface.
The impact of the film will depend on the audience’s attitudes toward scuba diving. Enthusiasts will be interested, others might find it too remote from their own experiences. And there is something frighteningly claustrophobic about being trapped underwater. And there is the continual challenge – what would we do in similar situations, what is the effect of the physical pressure, the psychological pressure, and how much inventiveness and creativity would we have for the rescue?
The first 12 minutes focuses on the relationship between the two sisters. There are memories of their father, playing together, diving together, some falling out – and a few flashbacks throughout the film, personalising the underwater crisis.
So, enjoyment value will depend on the impact the sisters make, audience response to the dangerous situation, and the challenge for a rescue (which, does not quite turn out as we might have been expecting).
The Reset
Released 2 November