As a seasoned movie-goer who has dived into the deep waters of documentaries, I must say that “Freediver” is a breath of fresh air. This captivating film by Michael John Warren takes us on an exhilarating journey into the world of competitive freediving, a sport that may not have been on many radars but certainly won’t be forgotten after watching this masterpiece.
What prompts this occurrence so frequently in the documentary “Freediver,” directed by Michael John Warren, is the question of ‘Why.’ This intriguing film delves into the life of Alexey Molchanov, a renowned figure in an unusual sport that might have gone unnoticed by many viewers but will undoubtedly linger in their minds after watching.
According to an article by Daniel Riley in GQ magazine from 2021, the movie starts with a text block that explains the main objective of competitive freediving: dive as deep as possible on a single breath without losing consciousness or dying. The piece delved into the broader human significance behind Molchanov’s extraordinary breath-holding feats and showcased the camaraderie among his fellow divers. The documentary focuses even more intently on Molchanov’s journey deeper into the ocean.
Alexey’s mother, Natalia Molchanova, plays a significant role – not just in Alexey’s personal history but also within the realm of the sport itself. A highly accomplished swimmer, she and Alexey’s father, Oleg, parted ways when Alexey was still a teenager. Post their divorce, Natalia didn’t find her true identity until she embraced freediving in her mid-forties. The movie incorporates snippets from poems she penned following this “rebirth,” as it was referred to by a relative.
It was a discovery she shared with her son as she began to excel at it. She was a record holder long before Alexey became one. Warren utilizes the story of the mother-and-son bond the way freedivers orient themselves to the main downline as they plunge deeper and deeper.
A home video shows Natalia beaming widely, whether she’s on dry land or wearing a wetsuit. In the year 2015, she mysteriously disappeared during a relatively ordinary dive off the coast of Spain. (Natalia played a poignant role in last year’s equally captivating documentary “The Deepest Breath,” which focused on freediver Alessia Zecchini.) The movie “Freediver” is haunted by Natalia, making it both heartfelt and psychologically engaging. The film is dedicated to her memory.
The movie hints at the unremarkable yet impressive (given his prodigious swimming skills even in early childhood), as well as the endearing aspect of the younger Molchanov’s life. Prior to being known as “the machine,” he was nicknamed “retriever” due to his affinity for his mother and senior divers, resembling a puppy around them.
In 2022, while Alexey was barred from competing in the prestigious event Vertical Blue due to Russia’s conflict with Ukraine, Warren commenced filming. Meanwhile, Alexey, along with his wife Elena Sokolova and their newborn son, observed from Moscow as other divers broke his previous world records in diving competitions.
A significant portion of the documentary’s suspense arises from Molchanov’s efforts in 2023 (competing under a neutral flag) to regain various records by participating in five freediving categories. At one point, the 36-year-old clarifies the rules for each event – variable weight, monofin, bi-fin free immersion, and the riskiest of all, no-fins. His eyes sparkle, and his excitement is infectious. It’s not hard to understand why he has established several diving schools under his name and aims to create more.
Molchanov’s journey leads audiences to various popular yet remote locations frequented by a diverse group of competitive freedivers, their loved ones, and enthusiasts of the sport: the Bahamas, Nice, Bonaire in the Caribbean, and Honduras. In the Philippines, an impending typhoon narrows the time available for him to accomplish one of his objectives. His rushed attempt highlights his unwavering determination (or perhaps his daring nature?).
The blend of talking heads and underwater shots (captured beautifully by Jeff Louis Peterman’s cinematography), along with occasional dramatic commentary about the possibility of disaster or success, follows typical genre patterns. However, “Freediver” also includes several sophisticated touches.
Scenes of the natural world provide Alexey with a peaceful refuge from the intense competition, prompting him to consider other significant aspects of his life: the wellbeing of our oceans. Warren and editor Mohammed El Manasterly craft surreal and dreamlike images that mimic the disorientation or trance-like state divers can experience before fainting or when they are deeply relaxed underwater.
Warren encounters a formidable rival in his admired figure, William Trubridge. Notably, this record-breaking freediver in no-fin diving and creator of the Vertical Blue invitational tournament played a significant role in disqualifying Molchanov from competitions in 2022. There were valid reasons behind this move. During an interview, Adam Skolnick, author of “One Breath: Freediving, Death and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits,” highlights a potential conflict of interest. He notes that Trubridge had held the no-fin diving record for seven years before Alexey attempted to break it.
However, in a passage that could potentially jar the audience out of Alexey’s domain, the sportswriter dismisses sincere ethical debates about sports, nationalism, and war. His comments on the insignificance of gestures might provoke viewers who may have already noticed the contrast between one Alexey – freely traversing the world, returning home to his wife and child in Moscow – and another Alexei, who was depicted in a different light in a documentary. This moment sparks complex emotions about the isolated world portrayed in the film, and perhaps extreme sports as a whole. Nevertheless, it doesn’t undermine the lasting impact that the story of Alexey and Natalia leaves behind.
“Freediver” is now streaming on Prime Video.
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2024-12-08 19:46