Breaking Surface
Breaking Surface

Movie spotlight

Breaking Surface

2020
Movie
82 min
Swedish

Two Swedish/Norwegian half sisters go on a winter diving trip in Northern Norway, when they get trapped after a rockslide.

Insights

IMDb5.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes67%
Metacritic50/100
Google Users68%
Director: Joachim HedénGenres: Thriller, Drama, Action

Plot Summary

Two estranged half-sisters, Ida and Tuva, reunite for a challenging winter dive in a remote Norwegian fjord. What begins as an attempt to reconnect takes a terrifying turn when a sudden landslide traps them underground in a submerged cave system. With limited oxygen and no escape route, they must confront their fractured relationship and fight for survival against the crushing depths and their own inner demons.

Critical Reception

Breaking Surface received mixed to positive reviews, praised for its intense atmosphere, strong performances, and suspenseful premise. Some critics found the plot predictable or the character development lacking, but many commended its effective use of claustrophobia and survival thriller elements.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its intense, claustrophobic atmosphere and gripping survival narrative.

  • Moa Gammel's performance as the determined protagonist was frequently highlighted.

  • Some viewers found the storyline somewhat predictable, but the tension remained high.

Google audience: Audience reviews generally appreciated the film's suspenseful premise and the high-stakes survival scenario. Many found the underwater cinematography and the sense of dread effective, though some wished for more depth in the character dynamics.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for Best Cinematography at the Guldbagge Awards (Sweden's national film awards).

Fun Fact

The film was shot entirely on location in Norway, utilizing real underwater caves and challenging diving conditions to enhance its realism and intensity.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
r96sk

r96sk

A diving film that does the job. <em>'Breaking Surface'</em> doesn't set up its characters all that well, though once underwater the stakes are very much felt and the dangers that exist are made apparent. It does get unsettling in parts....

Key-Si

Key-Si

The premise of "Breaking Surface" was something that intrigued me right away and the start also was very promising. But the more the film got going, the more I felt like something was lacking. In a way this one felt like the first "47 Meter...