Deep Water

Deep Water is a 2006 British documentary film directed by Jerry Rothwell and Louise Osmond, and produced by Al Morrow, Jonny Persey and John Smithson. It is based on the true story of British businessman and amateur sailor Donald Crowhurst, as he participated in the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, a single-handed, round-the-world yacht race held in 1968–69, during which he disappeared. The film reconstructs Crowhurst's voyage from his own audio tapes and cine film, interwoven with archival footage and interviews.

Smithson had previously produced the successful British documentary, Touching the Void (2003).[ 2]

The film received critical acclaim. The official poster quotes The Daily Telegraph, 'A movie which will reduce the hardest of hearts to a shipwreck'. Variety said "As it explores the limits of human endurance, the pic should suck even land-lubbers into a whirlpool of gripping adventure, overblown ambitions and sheer human folly".[ 2] It was described as 'fascinating' by The New York Times upon its release.[ 3]

The film won the Best Documentary award at the 2006 Rome International Film Festival and a commendation in the Australian Film Critics Association 2007 Film Awards.

The film opened in the UK on 15 December 2006 and grossed $122,384.[ 1] It was released on 24 August 2007 in the United States where it grossed $271,143 and went on to gross $727,202 worldwide.[ 1]