Deep Water

In 1968, nine men from around the world embarked on solo journeys to circumnavigate the globe. These men were hardboiled sailors with years of experience-except one.

This man was Donald Crowhurst. His infamous deceit is now the subject of the documentary Deep Water.

Crowhurst's desire for fame and fortune pushes him to abandon his wife and four young children and pour the entirety of his personal finances into the race. The film makes effective use of the actual footage (16mm film from cameras situated on the boats) to capture Crowhurst's inaptitude and growing sense of loneliness. Crowhurst realizes he must either drop out of the race or risk financial ruin for his family, but the temptation of the grand prize causes him to advance toward the harsh waters of the Southern Atlantic and toward his own death.

The filmmakers overanalyze the ramifications of Crowhurst's decision, and thus slow down plot development and delay the film's true gem: Crowhurst's deceit.

Crowhurst lies about his progress and spends his days off the coast of South America.

At this point, the film becomes less an adventure story and more a study of the sea's detrimental impact on human mentality. The filmmakers document the psychological effects of Crowhurst's absence on his family through frank and moving testimonials from his wife and son.

Crowhurst's own psychological decline is the true strength of the film. He becomes increasingly wary of the consequences of his deceit and obsesses over how to pull it off. Crowhurst's character is thereby complicated-he is both a liar and concerned family man. The filmmakers relish in the ambiguity of Crowhurst's morality, never being too cheap to portray him as hero or villain. The treatment of this 20th century Ahab is a winning formula for the film.

The documentary ends with the message that Crowhurst's desperation was a result of his desire to succeed for the benefit of his family. As a study of human frailty amidst the darkness of the ocean, Deep Water is a fine film.