Show of the week: Soul Of The Ocean

Dive deep beneath the waves and explore how aquatic species have developed to co-operate with each other and why biodiversity is so critical to the health of our oceans’ ecosystems.

As Sabine Holzer, head of specialist factual at Terra Mater Studios, explains: “Most people feel the ocean is a dangerous place characterised by constant violent predation, where the only relationship between species is that big fish eat little fish. But this is not the primary characteristic of life in the ocean.”

In this 50-minute documentary, veteran underwater filmmaker Howard Hall reveals how marine life and animal behaviour in the ocean really works.

“Peaceful co-operation between species is far more ubiquitous than predation and violence,” says Holzer. “Complex marine life communities have evolved from interspecies relationships – capturing the underwater behavioral sequences of the co-operation between species is at the heart of Soul Of The Ocean.”

The film explores habitats from coral reefs to kelp forests, coasts to open waters – as well as the darkest depths – while meeting humpback whales, tiny sea horses, anemone fish, cleaner fish and shrimps, turtles, dugongs and their strange and surprising symbiotic companions.

“Spectacular underwater cinematography reveals communities of interdependent marine species and highlights the critical role biodiversity plays in maintaining a healthy ocean,” says Holzer.

Mirjam Strasser, head of sales & acquisitions at Autentic Distribution, adds that the global nature of the subject matter adds to the international appeal of the doc, which “illustrates the critical role of biodiversity in maintaining the health of our oceans, which is a pressing global issue.”

She adds: “The documentary’s unique perspective on the extraordinary co-operative relationships between species, as well as the film’s spectacular underwater cinematography, are sure to fascinate and intrigue a global audience.”

Producer: Terra Mater Studios, Howard Hall Productions & Mark Fletcher Productions
Distributor: Autentic Distribution
Broadcaster: The WNET Group, in association with PBS and CPB (US)
Logline. Underwater documentary exploring the peaceful symbiotic relationships shared between marine life in oceans across the planet