What does it take to crawl out of a deep, dark depression spurred on by overwhelming grief? Perhaps a bit of happiness and joy, perhaps a new friendship, perhaps someone to pull you out of the darkness even if you don’t want to come back to the light. That beautiful, important person may end up being someone you least expect, perhaps even a complete stranger.
This challenging, deeply human search for light is now on screen in Learning to Breathe Under Water, the latest cinematic offering from British filmmaker Rebekah Fortune. The film joins a growing subgenre of cinema focusing on widowed fathers struggling to navigate life as parents without their mother present—a vein explored recently by films like Aftersun.
While these stories tackle profound loss and struggle, they often veer into the territory of intense gloom. Yet, Learning to Breathe Under Water manages a remarkable shift in tone. It takes the familiar landscape of sadness and injects something entirely new: vibrancy and genuine enthusiasm. The narrative balances the heavy realities of grief with moments of unexpected connection, proving that even in the darkest times, there is room for laughter and light.
The film shares thematic DNA with other poignant cinematic explorations of loss, offering an alternative perspective on what it means to heal. Where some narratives rely heavily on introspection and melancholy, this movie steps into a more uplifting space, making the emotional journey feel less like a descent into despair and more like a gentle, determined climb toward something better.
The performance by Rory Kinnear anchors this emotional landscape beautifully, delivering a portrayal of a father grappling with complex emotions that is both raw and deeply relatable. It reminds us that even when faced with overwhelming circumstances, the human capacity for connection, resilience, and joy remains powerful.
Credit: FirstShowing.net
