Syvyys

An ode to Icelandic tenacity and the Nordic "story of an ordinary man" who subdued the elements and limits of the body. That evocation of the title of Boris Polevoj's book is not malice and not cynicism, the seal man Gulli simply acts in the film as an epic hero who is strangely "roundly whole". The Deep is a film with drama, but without conflict; a film that, for its miracle unexplained by science, seeks an explanation for Iceland's resilience and ability to face ruthless conditions. Filmed with a sense of composition, it’s not offensive at all, but there is also nothing captivating about it - it's muted heroic poetry with an impenetrable protagonist who speaks to seagulls as a character of a heroic epic at a moment of strain in his life. A cultured film that has no edge. (17.04.2013)

A strong aspect of this film is the fact that it brings this story to our attention. As long as it's about the survival part, it's at times quite powerful, well-directed, almost gripping. But once it's off the sea, it just isn't as gripping, and it actually becomes slightly boring, the same goes for the flashback scenes, which didn't really add much for me. (22.11.2016)

Baltasar Kormákur is inseparably linked with the nature. Almost every one of his movies is influenced by the nature and it is no different with this one. This movie is about a beautiful but really wild Iceland nature and tells a true story even though no one is able to believe it. A story about a man perfectly portrayed by Ólafur Darri Ólafsson who was able tosurvive his own death. From time to time it is quite dark and you are unable to see anything. Moreover the main character is talking to seagulls a lot and many people might think that the movie is mental and without any film-making qualities. As I know, after so many years, that love for the nature is deeply rooted in the Icelanders (except for the fact that they eat Puffins) I have an understanding for such movies and I have to say that I liked everything about this particular one. A human is an unpredictable creature in all circumstances. (09.10.2020)

The Deep is a technically well-made intriguing film about a guy who managed an impossible feat thanks to unheard of physical predispositions. Flashbacks that tell us more about him, the lead performance and the wide-angle and filtered environment of the Icelandic location are not enough to dispel the impression that it should’ve remained a quality documentary. The audience, spoiled by Perfect Storms, expects a denser story from a feature film. (20.04.2013)