Survivre

THE DEEP isn't an amazing film but it is a heartfelt and compelling one that tells an amazing true story. It's also one of those outdoor 'wilderness' type films that explores man's survival against the elements, and it has the novelty of being an Icelandic film too.

The story takes place in 1984 and tells of a group of fishermen being flung into the freezing Atlantic when their fishing boat sinks. One of the men decides to swim for land and the film tells his difficult tale with death and danger dogging his every stroke. The narrative involvement is slim, but the film offers fascinating visuals that truly get across the sublime nature of the frozen north.

Olafur Darri Olafsson (BEOWULF & GRENDEL) is excellent in the leading role and gives a truly naturalistic performance. The latter part of the film almost moves into X-Files territory but retains the realism throughout. Director Baltasar Kormakur seems to spend his time either making movies in his own country or popping over to Hollywood for the likes of 2 GUNS and CONTRABAND, but this is definitely the most interesting - and oddly enchanting - film I've seen from him.

Based on a true story, this is a gripping tale of how an Icelandic sailor survives a sinking. The director really has a firm idea of the values and lifestyles of the sailors on this boat. The psychology of survival is demonstrated in imaginative ways, those choices that must be made in milliseconds and made correctly. The flash back scenes of what happened in the seaside town are done imaginatively. The choice of grayish tones and the weather beaten look of the boats adds to the gravity of the story as well as the impersonal and cold scientific team that handles the enquiry. We are reminded of the simple, but dangerous lives that many people have to live. They do so with dignity.

This film is based on a real life drama where an Icelandic fishing vessel sinks and 5 crew are drowned. The 6th member of the crew survives hours in bitterly cold sea and swims miles to an island where he is rescued. The acting is brilliant and a realistic portrayal of the fisherman's ordeal. I also liked the before and after build up of the main character's lifestyle and the setting of Icelandic folk living in basic and difficult conditions but sharing a camaradie and kinship. Scientists were baffled as to how this apparently unfit man survived the extreme conditions and he became something of a celebrity and underwent investigative tests in America and UK. In the end he returned to his old ways of life but I think as a wiser and better man. He was a simple hardworking regular guy who survived extreme conditions through metabolism but also his dogged determination. I found it particularly moving to see footage of the real life person.

fine movie and its about something that actually happened although its probably not exactly the same. but to the reviewer that doesn't know anything about fishermen or life in small town in iceland, they are hung over because they were coming from a dance the night before and this is just how it was here and changed only few years ago, those didn't have much life outside of work so they drank a little more but at least they went and met other people in a bar instead of today where most people just drink at home. and the guy never said he was a hero, but he did safe himself and swim to shore in very difficult situation where most people had died, and he hasn't had a great life after this. but the movie shows how life was in iceland in those years and is very realistic doing that. but there are always some people that think they know better then others or how things happened. even people giving movies bad reviews because people are smoking or some stupid things like that, and movies can be good even if you don't like the drinking or whatever is happening in them. just watch it and try what you would have done.

An amazing tale of survival with a strong performance by Ólafur Darri Ólafsson in the main role of Gulli.

This ties for the coldest a film has ever made me feel - along with Norway's The 12th Man. The whole ordeal is made the more harrowing by the true story angle.

It features some incredible cinematography. The Icelandic landscapes and scenery were breathtaking. The ocean shots really magnified the sense of loneliness and sheer odds against Gulli.

The scientific angle in the latter half of the film was interesting, though broke some of the momentum. In this sense, it felt like two films rolled into one. I liked how things came a bit full circle in the last few scenes though.

A solid (while not amazing) Icelandic film that I recommend to those into survival stories.