Based on the novel by former war correspondent J.M. Ledgard, Submergence at TIFF begins with a wild love affair featuring a beautiful young duo who are staying on the solo at the resort town of Dieppe, on France’s northern coast.
James (James McAvoy) is a globe-trotting water engineer working on contract for a charity, while Danielle (Alicia Vikander) is a bio-mathematician working on a groundbreaking and dangerous deep-sea diving project. After running into each other on the beach they immediately develop a spark, rapidly winding themselves up in a heart pounding romance even though their jobs are destined to tragically separate them.
While Danielle prepares to sink to the darkest reaches of the deep blue sea, James leaves for Somalia, where he is soon thrown into a geopolitical war that leaves him in grave danger. Submergence eerily showcases how two individuals can live in very different forms of isolation; all the while desperately longing for each other. Their determination to reconnect becomes as much a mind-bending journey as a love story.
The film features stunning landscapes, from the Normandy seaside, to the parched sands of Somalia, and dramatic Faroe Islands featuring jaw-dropping volcanic cliffs. Its spellbinding backdrops offer a perfect canvas for director Wim Wenders (Pina) to showcase a tortured tale of love and longing. If you’ve ever enjoyed an enthusiastic summer fling or traveled on your own to come face-to-face with a soulmate in one whirlwind of a weekend then Submergence will tear away your tears.
