Learning to Breathe Under Water Review
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The Unfulfilled Promise of “Learning to Breathe Under Water”
In a year marked by artistic experimentation and increased politicization of art, it’s not surprising that “Learning to Breathe Under Water” attempts to tackle the complexities of grief and trauma. However, this uneven comedy-drama stumbles over its own ambitions, struggling to balance humor and pathos.
The film’s central premise – a bereaved father builds a metal shark on his roof as a tribute to his late wife – is inspired by the real-life “Headington Shark” sculpture that appeared in an English town in 1986. The filmmakers could have used this idea to comment on the absurdity of death, but instead opt for a more sentimental approach.
Rory Kinnear shines as the bereaved father, bringing nuance and depth to what could have been a one-dimensional character. However, even his strong performance can’t salvage the film’s uneven tone, which veers wildly between moments of genuine warmth and awkwardness.
The problem lies not just with the script or direction but also with the filmmakers’ failure to commit to their vision. The result is a film that feels like two separate entities: one part whimsical comedy, another part heavy-handed drama. This tension between tone and style makes for a viewing experience that’s at times confusing and unenjoyable.
One area where the film excels is production design. May Davies’ use of color and set dressing effectively illustrates Peter’s emotional state, but this can’t compensate for the narrative’s shortcomings. The special attention lavished on production design only highlights the film’s failure to engage its audience on a deeper level.
In an era where cinema struggles to balance entertainment with intellectual rigor, “Learning to Breathe Under Water” feels like a relic of a bygone age – one that fails to live up to its own ambitions. With a more confident approach and willingness to take risks, this film could have been something remarkable. As it stands, however, it’s a reminder that even the most promising ideas can fall short.
The film’s failure is not just a personal disappointment but also a testament to the challenges facing contemporary cinema. Filmmakers are under pressure to deliver content that’s both accessible and impactful, which can lead to creative compromise. In trying to straddle these competing demands, “Learning to Breathe Under Water” ends up stuck in the middle – a film that promises much but ultimately delivers little.
Ultimately, what this film shows is the danger of being overly ambitious in our creative endeavors. By attempting to tackle too many themes and ideas at once, we risk diluting our message and losing sight of our core vision. The result is a film that’s more notable for its flaws than its achievements – a reminder that sometimes less really is more.
The fact remains that “Learning to Breathe Under Water” has been made, and audiences will continue to respond to it in various ways. As we watch this film stumble through its narrative, we can’t help but wonder what could have been – if only the filmmakers had taken a step back and committed to their vision with greater conviction.
Reader Views
- CMColumnist M. Reid · opinion columnist
The reviewer's criticism of "Learning to Breathe Under Water" is well-taken, but what's striking is how the film's failure to commit to its tone resonates with our current cultural obsession with spectacle over substance. In a world where social media platforms reward attention-grabbing content above all else, it's telling that this movie gets lost in its own attempts to balance humor and pathos. Perhaps the filmmakers should have taken a cue from their own metal shark: sometimes less is more.
- RJReporter J. Avery · staff reporter
The film's misstep lies in its inability to subvert expectations, instead relying on a sentimental approach that plays it safe. What's more interesting is how this reflects broader trends in art and media today - a reluctance to challenge audiences, opting for comfort over discomfort. In a world where we're constantly told to "lean into the uncomfortable," Learning to Breathe Under Water feels like a missed opportunity to actually make us uncomfortable, to prod us out of our emotional complacency.
- ADAnalyst D. Park · policy analyst
The film's greatest failure lies in its inability to subvert expectations rather than reinforce them. By playing it safe and opting for sentimentalism over satire, the filmmakers squander an opportunity to truly comment on the absurdity of death and the human response to trauma. Instead, we're left with a meandering narrative that struggles to balance tone and style, resulting in a viewing experience that's more frustrating than cathartic. A more calculated risk would have elevated this film from a forgettable drama into something truly noteworthy.