A FASCINATING DEPTH – A REVIEW OF 'DEEP LOVE' BY JAN P. MATUSZYŃSKI
'Deep Love', the latest film by Jan P. Matuszyński has qualified for the Young Cinema Competition, part of the 56th edition of the DOK. Leipzig festival, where it is going to have its world premiere. We encourage you to read a review of the film below.
'Deep Love' (2013), the latest documentary by Jan P. Matuszyński, is an elaborate treatise about passion and overcoming all limitations (the film is dedicated to two himalayan mountaineers who died in the mountains and who the director knew personally – Rafał Chołda and Artur Hajzer). The film's protagonist is Janusz Solarz – an economist, a lawyer, an avid diver and instructor. For many years he had lived his life to the fullest, broke all sorts of records, people around him saw him as a strong personality, completely devoted to his passion. A stroke he had during one of his training sessions changed his life dramatically. Now he has to learn how to live and cope with these new circumstances. And there is one single dream that keeps him going – to know what it feels like to dive again.
We watch him as he tries to work his way back to normal life, we see him dealing with his partial disability, as he starts to move and function better and better. Step by step, we accompany him into the depths of the underwater world. When in water, Janusz operates far better then out of it. He wants to break records again, he sets a goal that would be challenging even for a fully-abled diver – to dive in the Blue Hole in Egypt.
'Deep Love' has another important thing to tell: that a person can fullfill their dreams by sacrifice and devotion of others around them. The mainstay for Janusz's comeback to doing what he loves is his partner, Asia, who helps him in many things, including his therapy (she is a professional water therapist). At some point, Asia becomes just as important as a character in the film, we sympathize deeply with her as she faces dilemmas: on the one hand, she helps Janusz to get back to doing what his passionate about, on the other she cannot come to terms with the risk his taking. Another interesting character is Artur, Janusz's close friend and diving partner for many years, who decides to dive in the Blue Hole together with him. The three of them make a very well-tuned and supportive team. For most people it may astounding how easily they communicate with each other (Janusz is partially paralysed and cannot speak). It turns out that gestures, associations, love and passion make a universal language – which by the way was shown truly well by Matuszyński and Kacper Fertacz (cinematography).
A great strength of the film is that the things that are crucial are delivered visually. The exceptionally impressive underwater shots make us feel that what attracts Janusz so much, understand why he is willing to take such a great risk. Towards the end, we immerse ourselves in the depth of the sea well, delighted with the world that Janusz longs for.