Film

Under the Surface

Exploring masculinity and mental health in the outdoor endurance swimming world.
 
A white man swims in a lake with mountains behind

About

Running time

25 minutes

Country / Nationality

United Kingdom

Our Judges say:

An inspiring story about overcoming adversity and looking with fresh eyes at stereotypes.

Jimmy Hyland

A film that explores acceptance after injury, masculinity and mental health, and what it means to be vulnerable as a man in the outdoor endurance swimming world. We go back to the time before Jim found swimming, where he broke his back in a work-related accident. We are taken through Jim’s experiences with addiction to pain medication, his loss of his long-term relationship, and through the reality of recovering from an injury. Jim finds solace and rehabilitation in endurance swimming, learning to walk again through his swimming, and starting to build a new career as a swim coach in the process. Content warning: this film discusses the topic of suicide.