The Time of a Breath-Hold, or On a Long Breath (English title) showcases the special relationship between humans and the aquatic environment and the many species that inhabit it. Meet Philippe Gérard, the director, and the main actor of this documentary, free diver Pierre Frolla.Far from the big blue and the quest for depth records at any cost, this documentary aims to give a new image to breath-hold diving. It presents a discipline where man becomes one with nature and turns into a fish among the fish. This is the message that convinced champion free diver Pierre Frolla to join this adventure: » Free diving is known for competition, records, and for being a very elitist sport. I wanted to show that it is actually more of a life philosophy that carries human values. » « I wanted to portray a man who had experienced championships and wanted to present breath-hold diving from an environmental protection perspective and respect for nature. Both the character and his lifestyle inspired me to make a film. Pierre and I do not like to waste time. So, a month and a half after we met, we were already filming. « 
Impressive immersion alongside sperm whales © Philippe Gérard[/caption]Stunning images already awardedFinding filming locations, quality equipment, and especially capturing on screen the chemistry between man and nature. This film is a technical feat that required quality footage. That is why Philippe Gérard called on René Heuzey as director of photography. This specialist in underwater images is notably known for his work on the film Oceans by Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud. And the result was not long in coming, the film received the award for best imagery at the South Korea film festival, a great satisfaction for its director: « it was a great surprise because I had really seen other sublime films. A true pride to receive an award as prestigious as best imagery that also encompasses narrative quality. I did not expect it at all. « An extraordinary filming experienceAtlantic, Pacific, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean… Shot in six different locations – providing the opportunity to encounter a wide diversity of marine species –, the filming lasted 51 days. Filming a documentary on free diving is no easy feat. For Pierre Frolla, it was about stringing together as many free dives as possible in a minimum of time. But that was not enough to daunt the free diver participating in his 34th documentary, as Philippe Gérard explains: » Nothing makes Pierre happier than being in the water. I would say that the most challenging part for him was staying on land. He puts his all into everything he does, and when he had the chance to make underwater encounters all day, he didn’t count the hours of diving. « 
The DVD will be available on August 16, 2016 © Philippe Gérard[/caption]A beautiful encounter at the turn of a reefMagical dive with sperm whales, an unsettling face-off with tiger sharks in the Bahamas, the free diver had many opportunities to marvel. Yet it was his surprising encounter with a moray eel that marked him. Intrigued by this strange creature that held its breath and observed him, the animal began a dance around Pierre Frolla. A beautiful moment for the French champion: » This interaction was a big surprise. I had never experienced this in my career. We danced, I was able to touch it, it was still nearly three meters long. It was a magical moment. » According to the director, if they hadn’t been in the water, one could almost hear the animal purring…A commitment to nature and environmental protectionThis documentary is a call to protect marine species and their environment. A message that is particularly dear to Pierre Frolla. The former free-diving champion retired from his sports career in 2007 to dedicate his skills to a cause: raising awareness among people about the protection of species such as whales, sharks, and corals. Pierre Frolla’s message is simple: » We must realize that we are part of a whole that requires harmony and not a sharp transition triggered by overfishing and anarchic dumping of products in the oceans. Think about what we are leaving to our children… »
Practical: « The Time of a Breath-Hold », already available for pre-order on DVD (amazon.fr) and most VOD platforms. Delivery from August 16, 2016.
Margot Harty
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