How the Indescribable is Visualised - The Cinematography of Drowning

Cinematic fictional depictions of drowning are often beautiful and well crafted pieces of filmmaking. While visually immersive these scenes encapture the viewers and act as a dramatic event in film narratives.The reality of drowning is predominantly silent, quick and motionless. The translation of such physical and traumatic acts is a challenge for director, cinematographer and editor alike, one which often leads to abstract and experimental images. This paper aims to consider stories of survival and trauma and the visualisation of these scenes in movies in the hope to answer the question; Can drowning be accurately portrayed in the film form?