AQUARELA hits cinema screens at a time when the environment is finally getting the attention it requires, at least from a public awareness and media focus point of view.
Often government and policy makers are only moved into action when the people have had enough, and for people to take a stand, moving stories – particularly visual stories – can make all of the difference.
Aquarela offers a deeply immersive visual experience that perfectly encapsulates the raw power, magnificence and preciousness of the planet’s most vital resource. Shot at 96 frames-per-second, this film is one of the most visually intense films you will ever see on the big screen and would bee worth watching simply for the eye feast that Director Victor Kossakovsky has provided. However, there’s a much deeper message behind it: Water is a force of nature, that gives and takes away with impunity and without prejudice. It’s a power that demands our respect and the impact human activity is having on how our planet’s water is behaving is something we simply cannot afford to ignore any longer.
Kossakovsky takes viewers across globe, from West Coast America to Greenland, South America and the Siberian Tundra. Although the locations blend seamlessly with an array of frighteningly raw close-up epic footage of oceans, towers of ice and tropical storms. The moments of true calm are mostly only to be found when the cameras dive into water where the silence offers stark contrast with the tumultuous activity on the surface.
Something that really hits home is the fact that the crew of this film put themselves in genuine harm’s way to tell this story. There are numerous moments throughout that are uncomfortable to watch when you realise that there’s a crew present. Unsung heroes, they are barely seen for the most part, but it’s hard not to think of them at some of film’s peak moments.
This isn’t your typical climate change “propaganda” film. Aquerala doesn’t have a famous actor or politician providing a leading voice over to direct the audience’s attention. It doesn’t need it. The scenes, largely devoid of humans and wildlife, speak for themselves. Our planet’s key resource is at war with itself and its surroundings and the conscious viewer will likely come to the conclusion that human’s aren’t helping, even if you’re among the strange camp who doesn’t believe that humans are directly making things worse. There is a suggestion of hope at the film’s conclusion, so it’s definitely not a depressing watch. Rather Aquarela is a celebration of the sheer power, importance and majesty of life’s key ingredient, water.
We would strongly recommend seeing this film at a cinema capable of showing it in all of its 96fps glory. Otherwise it will be shown at 48 fps, which is still rich, but not quite as impactful visually. Check out the trailer above.
AQUARELA is rated PG and is released in cinemas from 13th December, running 1h29m.
Check here for Cinemas: https://www.parkcircus.com/film/118584-Aquarela
