She Is the Ocean

She is the Ocean is an awe-inspiring and visually stunning 2018 documentary that celebrates the deep spiritual and physical connection between women and the ocean, as well as their collective contribution to this immense expanse of water that covers 70% of the earth's surface. The film features different women from across the world, each with her exceptional story and connection to the ocean.

Directed by Inna Blokhina and produced by Steve Bellamy, She is the Ocean leads audiences on a journey that immerses viewers deeply in the lives of nine extraordinary women who have dedicated their lives, their soul, and their physical prowess to the ocean. These inspirational figures include Anna Bader, Jeannie Chesser, and Sylvia Earle, among others.

The film starts with Anna Bader, a German high-diver, renowned worldwide for her dives from mind-boggling heights with a thrilling mix of poise, precision, and daredevil bravado. Her mastery in synchronizing her movements with the rhythm of the ocean waves before diving into its depths delivers an exhilarating viewing experience. Bader's segment celebrates the courage it takes to face fear and push human limits to bring about a transcendental connection with the ocean.

Then there's Jeannie Chesser, a world-renowned big-wave rider and surf champion from Hawaii. In the film, Jeannie gives viewers a profound insight into the spiritual and transformative power of the sea. Her gritty endurance and strength are tangible as she battles towering waves, demonstrating the immense respect surfers must hold for the sea's might and fury.

Sylvia Earle, a legendary oceanographer often hailed as "Her Deepness," represents the academic aspect of ocean connection. No short of awards and recognition, Earle's lifelong commitment to ocean preservation is beautifully portrayed in the film. Her roles as an author, lecturer, and explorer give viewers an enlightening perspective into the importance of understanding and preserving the ocean's delicate ecosystems.

Besides these, the film takes viewers across the world to meet other women with diverse backgrounds such as a teen surfing prodigy from Hawaii, a shark conservationist from Australia, a popular Instagram influencer whose underwater photography counters fear of sharks, a Russian world record-breaking free-diver, and a cook on a ship traversing the harshest seas. Each woman's personal narrative explores different themes including fear, meditation, spirituality, preservation, courage, discipline, and respect.

She is the Ocean is more than just a documentary - it's an intricately woven tapestry of individual and collective tributes to the sea. It demystifies and humanizes the powerful expanse by presenting it through the gaze of those with exceptional bonds formed with the ocean. The movie seamlessly alternates between breathtakingly beautiful scenes of the ocean and its intricacies, inspirational conversations with the featured women, and heart-stopping sequences of these women engaging with the sea.

The underlying theme of the film is that although the ocean might seem disparate for different individuals, the threads of fascination, respect, and love for it overlap and tangle, binding them into a unique and unified symbiosis. Through each story, the audience gets the chance to visualize and understand the role the ocean plays in shaping their lives.

Inna Blokhina does an exceptional job presenting the ocean not just as a natural element, but a character itself, and communicating how each woman's relationship with the ocean shapes her identity. From a marine biologist's life-long commitment and a surfer's courageous battles to a high-diver's stomach-dropping plunges, each narrative serves as a unique testament of love, fear, safety, awe, triumph, and reverence for the ocean.

The film is a beautiful exploration of femininity and the power of mother nature, showcasing how these two entities come together in a stunning symbiotic relationship. The strength and valor of women on full display in She is the Ocean serve to inspire and embody the boundless, deep, and always changing nature of the ocean itself.

In conclusion, She is the Ocean is an excellent illustration of human connection to our most natural environment, the ocean. It takes viewers into the depths through visual storytelling and the lives of extraordinary women, thereby fostering a deep connection and appreciation for the sea.