Based on a true story, Last Breath entails the story of Chris Lemons (played by Finn Cole) as he gets stuck 300 feet below the surface for over thirty minutes without oxygen. The story is more miraculous than the film and is a tale of pure human spirit.
The film is split into three clear acts, creating exhilarating pacing that never feels too dragged and creates a nice 90-minute film that is easy to follow and watch whilst still providing something to think about. It gets rid of the common theme of over two-hour long films and shows that you can fit in character progression, drama and emotional moments with a comfortable time frame.
a story of pure luck and triumph shown through amazing camera work and even better acting
Finn Cole (most known for his role as Eric in “An Inspector Calls”) provides a beautifully normal performance; his character isn’t extraordinary, he’s just human, which makes it impossible to not root for him. Furthermore the rest of the cast are all perfectly acted, they all have their own roles but the audience aren’t forced to want to know more. Instead, we are shown each character and some are given some backstory but the focus is simply put on Lemons and how he is rescued.
A highlight was the cinematography - the use of sweeping drone shots to showcase the sea, contrasting with the tight close ups of the character’s faces, makes the film not only tense but also a pleasure to watch. The shots of the divers in the ocean are wide and empty with the only visuals being a bright, white light which makes it tense and eerie.
This is paired with incredible sound design. The music isn’t overused, instead allowing the silence to linger with just the ambient sounds of the ocean. Furthermore, this silence creates tension making it almost thriller-like and easily keeps you on the edge of your seat.
It’s a great film for anyone who is interested in stories based in humanity - the real Chris lived with no injuries, which scientists are still shocked at. It’s a story of pure luck and triumph shown through amazing camera work and even better acting; it’s truly worth the watch just for the story alone.