Ocean with David Attenborough (2025)

Ocean With David Attenborough (2025) makes a big impact. What beautiful, exciting immersive underwater photography. We all agreed that the documentary was “visually stunning and beautifully made.”   It will probably go onto television at some point; we did feel, however, that the big screen was the best way to watch it.

One of us felt it was a “rollercoaster” experience. We were struck by the way a film that has a focus on fishing’s industrial devastation of the ocean, can end with David Attenborough’s sense of optimism and hope.  We can make a difference.

The scenes of the damage caused by bottom trawlers scraping the ocean bed, felt like a war landscape. It was described by Attenborough as “modern day colonialism.”  We, of course, found these images graphic and troubling.  One of us felt uncomfortable now about eating fish.

The film was a wake-up call not to be complacent. We talked about industrial fishing around the world, in countries including China, created by demands for food from the community.  One of our members mentioned Greenpeace’s direct action in protecting the ocean.

We were really pleased to have a seven-year-old attending. She especially liked watching the whales and had cried a little through the film in the sad parts.

There was some discussion about the gender of those involved in making the film and why there were so many male cinematographers.

The film, made when Attenborough was 99, was a tribute to his long, impressive career in broadcasting, natural history and educating the nation.  One of our shorts showed his father’s influence when he was a child. He was wisely guided to discover answers for himself.  Attenborough, at 100, still is questioning and enthusiastic about the natural world.

We celebrated the short film Fish Story (2017), which is practically perfect in every way.  It’s the second time we’ve shown it at RCC and it’s a bringer of joy. Thanks to the director, Charlie, who gave us a special introduction.

 Anne