Television Documentary "Breathless" (2004)

By Rik Rösken

The Canadian television documentary breathless goes about freediving records and competitions. In the program we see how the Canadian Mandy-Rae Cruickshank prepares together with her friend and mentor Kirk Krack for a record and competition. Further we also meet Annabel Brisano and do we see some footage of the last dive from Audre Mestre and Fransisco "Pipin" Ferreras.

The documentary does put the pressure completely on freediving as a record and competition sport. There is no mention of the physiological development that plays a role in the sport and that freediving is more than only competition related. Like often, the world records play a key role with this documentary and the other aspects are ignored.

Nevertheless, it should be noted that on a relative scale it have been tried to project some objectivity and this does level this documentary above the average. It is however still a pity that again freediving is only presented from one side and not other aspects of this wonderful sport have been showed.

Also:
Breathless
Column Week 16: Why do you dive?