Aquarela

Aquarela is a visionary documentary, which swept through global screens in 2018, fascinating audiences with its thematic uniqueness and unmatched storytelling capabilities. Directed by Victor Kossakovsky, this groundbreaking movie stands as a tribute to the beautiful yet terrifying power of water, in all of its forms.

The film begins on the surface of Russia’s Lake Baikal, the deepest and oldest freshwater lake in the world. It's mid-winter, and we are introduced to a team of courageous locals who are attempting to rescue a car that has broken through the ice. The intensity of the situation is palpified by the sounds of cracking and groaning ice underneath, while the car slowly sinks into the frosty depth, drawing us into a world of sheer arctic danger. It's such scenes that turn Aquarela into not just a documentary, but a monument to the power of nature.

Aquarela is made unique by its unconventional narrative design. Rather than a typical film with a plot progression or a specific story, Aquarela unfolds in an episodic fashion with breathtaking shots that narrate different aspects of water across myriad geographical locations. The director Kossakovsky is widely reputed for his avant-garde approach to filmmaking and Aquarela is no exception. It takes viewers on a visually stunning, and at times terrifying adventure, strongly emphasizing the unpredictable and overwhelming power of water to mold our planet.

Shot at a boldly cinematic speed of 96 frames per second, Aquarela has an ethereal quality, giving water an almost sentient personality. The audience is taken from the frigid dangers of Siberia, to the destructive might of Hurricane Irma in Miami, to the vast stretches of the Atlantic Ocean, and to the breath-taking enormity of the Angel Falls in Venezuela. Each location, with its own unique connection to water, reveals an inherently unpredictable and miraculous phenomen. With its dramatic lighting, sweeping camerawork, and exhilarating sound design, the film tests the limits of what a documentary can evoke emotionally.

The narrative flow of Aquarela is primarily dictated by its visuals, but the soundtrack plays a pivotal role in magnifying the effect. From the drone of engulfing waves to the thundering roars of collapsing icebergs, the soundscape in Aquarela gives viewers a tactile and immersive experience. The filmsgoers are met with elemental sonic intensity through music composed by Eicca Toppinen from the Finnish band Apocalyptica. The heavy metal-style music, amplified by the graceful compositions of a cello, makes this documentary a dissimilar venture from the usual.

What makes Aquarela stand out from its documentary counterparts is the absence of narrations and interviews. Kossakovsky relies on the dynamism of water itself to convey its power and beauty. Whereas some may interpret this strategy as an experimental departure from a viewer-friendly approach, others might discover it as an artistic endeavour meant to shatter preconceived notions of film-making. Aquarela serves as both a visual poem and a clarion call to respect and fear the power nature harnesses.

Visually arresting and jarring in its portrayal of the vitality of water, Aquarela straddles the line between a thrill-seeking adventure and a visual treat. Kossakovsky’s immersive perspective explores the fragments of human resilience, portraying not only the struggles of individuals against the natural forces but also touching upon the human-induced climate change.

In all its grandeur and spectacular nature, the film also stands as a stark reminder of our changing environment. With global warming leading to the capsizing of icebergs, rising sea levels, and increasingly destructive hurricanes, Aquarela shows us the effects of nature’s wrath on its own terms.

Aquarela is as much about the artistic grandiosity of mother nature as it is about its raw, uncontrolled, and savage bearing. With its seamless melding of immense scope, sensory sounds, and evocative music, it is a theatrical masterpiece that showcases the grand theatre of nature.

Whether you're a cinephile who appreciates emotive cinematography or a nature enthusiast who’s interested in climate changes and their effects, Aquarela is highly recommended. Not only does it manifest the art of documentary-making into new territories but also it encapsulates the sheer power and velvet beauty of water. From start to end, Aquarela will hold you captive with its spellbinding visuals and intense soundtrack. It is a symphony of visuals and sounds that will surely leave you contemplating long after the film has ended, awestruck and sobered by the omnipotent power of water.