Watch Moving Art: Underwater

Moving Art: Underwater is a mesmerizing visual journey into the depths of the ocean. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg and released in 2015, the documentary showcases the stunning beauty and diversity of marine life, captured in breathtaking high-definition footage. As the title suggests, Moving Art: Underwater mainly focuses on the underwater world, but it also offers a glimpse at the coastal landscapes and wildlife that surround and interact with the oceans. The film is a celebration of nature's unspoiled grandeur and a call to protect the fragile ecosystems that sustain it.

The documentary is structured as a series of interconnected vignettes, each centering on a different marine subject, from majestic whales and dolphins to colorful tropical fish, from ominous sharks to ethereal jellyfish. The footage seamlessly blends close-up shots of individual creatures with wider views of expansive seascapes and coral reefs, creating a sense of immersion and wonder.

What sets Moving Art: Underwater apart from other nature documentaries is its use of time-lapse and slow-motion photography. By speeding up or slowing down the movement of the creatures and the water, the film reveals hypnotic patterns and rhythms that are otherwise invisible to the naked eye. For instance, we see a school of sardines swirling in unison like a massive living organism, or a sea turtle gliding gracefully through a cloud of shimmering particles.

Another aspect that elevates the film's visual impact is its use of color and light. The hues and shades of the marine environments are breathtakingly vivid and evocative, ranging from the cool blues and greens of the open ocean to the warm oranges and pinks of the tropical reefs. The interplay of light and shadow creates dramatic contrasts and textures, making the creatures and the landscape look like works of art.

Throughout the film, we hear a soothing and ethereal musical score by composer Gary Malkin, which complements the images with a sense of harmony and wonder. The score incorporates natural sounds, such as the whales' songs, the dolphins' clicks, and the waves' rhythms, as well as electronic and orchestral elements that enhance the emotional and sensory impact of the visuals.

The documentary also includes brief interviews with scientists and conservationists who explain some of the ecological challenges facing the oceans, such as overfishing, pollution, and climate change. These segments add a layer of context and urgency to the stunning visuals, reminding us of the fragility and interconnectedness of marine life and human society.

One of the most impressive sequences in Moving Art: Underwater is the one showcasing the annual migration of whale sharks in the waters of Mexico. We see dozens of these gentle giants, which can grow up to 40 feet long, feeding on plankton near the surface of the water. The footage captures their massive mouths open wide, the gills flapping, the fins gently swaying, and the skin patterned with white spots and stripes. The slow-motion shots of the whale sharks gliding past the camera are truly hypnotic and awe-inspiring.

Another standout sequence shows a pod of dolphins surfing in the wake of a boat, leaping out of the water with acrobatic grace and synchrony. The footage captures the sheer joy and freedom of these intelligent and playful animals, as well as their close bonds with their peers and their environment.

Moving Art: Underwater is a film that invites us to marvel at the wonders of the ocean, to appreciate its creatures and habitats, and to reflect on our responsibility to protect them. Through its stunning visuals, its mesmerizing music, and its ecological message, the film cultivates a sense of reverence and connection with the natural world, and inspires us to take action towards its preservation.