Ariel might have wanted to escape the ocean, but this real-life South African mermaid can’t get enough of it, and a new film she’s starring in hopes to inspire us all to appreciate water (in all its forms) a little more.
Global (23 May, 2023) — Where there’s water there’s life, and if we love life, caring for our waters can’t exactly be last on the to-do list. This is one message the short film ‘Shaped by Water’ bottles as it shares champion perspectives, including that of a famous South African mermaid, Zandile Ndhlovu.
A team of offshore sailors from the United States, a free-skiing world champ and Zandi the mermaid—AKA, SA’s renowned free-diver and global powerhouse—came together to share their passion for water in its different forms, hoping to inspire others in the process.
The film flows to a score by Grammy-Award-winning Todd Hannigan and is directed by Cape Town-based creative Dean Leslie. It’s something of a love letter to nature’s life force, and a documentary of champions all wrapped together.
Spilling the Beauty of Water
More than a passion project, the film and mini-doc was made to remind everyone how connected we are to water beyond our biology, and how connected we can be in a deeper way.
The Black Mermaid’s Take
“I had learned to breathe at 30 years old. And used this breath to explore the deepest oceans, often with my eyes closed… listening to the sound of the rope to measure the speed of my descent .. ‘there was nothing to see’ seems a silly say in an ocean so vast, but Freediving for me has always been about the dive into the self, to see through the eyes of the heart. A timely dance with the gift of the here and now.
“What I didn’t know what that the repetition of all those dives into depth was a shaping. For me, the ocean is the ultimate definer of freedom.”—Zandile Ndhlovu.
Produced by 11th Hour Racing and teaming up with Protect Our Winters, you can sail here to keep up with where to watch the film and learn more about the projects.