There have already been some cinematic look at the famous Tham Luang Cave rescue 2018 that saved 12 young Thai football players and their coaches. First “Free Solo” Oscar winner Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin Helmed National Geographic Documentary “The Rescue.” Then Ron Howard Directed 2022 biographical drama “Thirteen life”, In the lead role Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell and Joel Edgerton.
Now, another documentary about what happened to one of the heroes after Media Storm of 2018 enters the battle.
“Deeper“Which will premiere at 2025 SXSW Film & TV festival in the Documentary Spotlight section, centers at the Anesthesis doctor Dr. Richard Harris, whose technology was the key to extracting the stranded teenage football players one by one. (Harris was made by Joel Edgerton in “Thirteen Life.”)
Jennifer Peedom (“Mountain”, “Sherpa”) writes and leads the documentary with Alex Barry together. “Deeper” is produced by Blayke Hoffman. Subject Harris Executive produces the film and is credited as a underwater cinematographer – here explore another new cave system.
The official synopsis reads: “After achieving worldwide praise for its crucial role in the dead rescue of a young Thai football team, Richard ‘Harry’ Harris goes on a dangerous new cave diving expedition that will drive the boundaries of adventure and force him to confront his deepest fear. Richard, who handles imposter -syndrome and a shaky self -esteem after the shocking events in Thailand, is now in New Zealand and explores some of the deepest divade caves in the world. This time, together with his friend and the assistant Craig Challen, Harris fights against the elements, pressed the boundaries for deep diving and calibrates what we know about how deep people can go. ”
Both Harris and the Challen were named Australians of the Year 2019 for their help in Thai Cave Rescue.
“Deeper” follows Harris exploration of New Zealand’s Pease Resurgence, a difficult access cave. Harris designs a risky, groundbreaking plan to use hydrogen for breathing. This technology, according to the documentary description, could solve two problems that differently encounter when it is at a depth: high pressure neurological syndrome (HPN) and the difficulty of getting enough air as gases increase in density. But it can also be fatal.
“I almost didn’t do this movie,” director Peedom said in a press release. “I warmed to Harry when he contacted me in 2022 and was fascinated by what he was trying to do, but I felt extremely worried. This may not be my exact words, but I asked him: ‘Have you seen my movies? People always die in them. “”
She continued, “It is incredible to witness and document grief. ‘Solo,’ made with David Michôd, was about the late Andrew Mcauley and his prevented attempts to kayak from Australia to New Zealand. I was at Everest and did ‘Sherpa’ when 16 people were killed by an avalanche. What if Harry pressed further because I was there with a camera and there were disastrous consequences? What if he died? I passed (on the project). Months later, Harry again made history, this time without the world watching. And he lived to tell the story. He approached me again and the pictures he caught were extraordinary, and that meant that reinstations would not be necessary. I got on board. The film is called “deeper” for good reasons. Harry pushes himself to go deeper into the cave and he agreed to go deeper into himself. I thank him for trusting myself for making this movie. ”
“Deeper” will be released theatrically in Australia by Madman Entertainment later this year. Dogwoof handles world sales on the film, which is looking for a North American distributor. Check out the trailer below before the SXSW World Premiere on March 8th.
