The Ponds
Synopsis
In the middle of London lies Hampstead Heath, 320 hectares of forest, parkland and wildlife, plus three unique, gender-segregated swimming ponds. People take the waters in them all year round, just as they did in the time of Keats and Constable.
Capturing all the beauty of the English seasons, Patrick McLennan and Samuel Smith filmed the swimmers over 12 months as they shivered, laughed, complained, ruminated, philosophised or simply sought respite from all that life threw at them.
THE PONDS is a heart-warming celebration of eccentricity and sheer bloody-mindedness as these unusual people, united by a shared passion, meet to take on whatever the weather… and life… throws at them.
Details
- Year
- 2018
- Type of film
- Features
- Running time
- 74 min
- Format
- HD 1080p PAL
- Director
-
Patrick McLennan, Samuel Smith 1st Feature
- Producer
- Patrick McLennan, Samuel Smith
- Executive Producer
- Christopher Hird
- Editor
- Samuel Smith
- Screenwriter
- Patrick McLennan
- Director of Photography
- Samuel Smith
- Sound
- Jasper Thorn
- Composer
- Dai Watts
- Film Colourist
- Paul Koren
Categories
Production Status
Production Company
Laser Guided Productions Ltd.
Patrick McLennanFlat 2, 61 Maygrove Road
London
NW6 2EE
Sales Company
Silvia Angrisani,
Aquatic FilmsUnit 10, Southbrook Mews
Southbrook Road
Lee, London SE12 8LG
United Kingdom
m: +33 6 76 57 09 90
e: silvia@aquaticfilms.net
w: http://www.aquaticfilms.net/
Page updates
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