The greatest narrator of nature that the world has ever known turns 99 and chooses to celebrate this goal by launching what he himself calls “one of the most important films of my career”. David Attenborough celebrates his birthday on May 8 with the release of “Ocean“, A documentary that represents not only a celebration of marine life, but above all an urgent alarm cry for the protection of aquatic ecosystems.
“After almost 100 years spent on the planet, I now understand that the most important place on Earth,” Sir David said in the film, condensing almost a century of experience and observation of the natural world. “Ocean” is not the typical naturalistic documentary to which Attention has accustomed us to. As he explains to the BBC Toby Nowlanproducer of the film, “It is not a question of observing unpublished natural behaviors. It’s the biggest message I ever have “.
Directed by Keith SchleyNowlan and Colin Butfieldthe documentary tells the deep link between the ocean and life on earth, showing beauty and wealth, but also the fragility of marine ecosystems. Through spectacular sequences of coral reefs, algae forests Kelp and open ocean, the film reveals not only the wonder of underwater life, but also the threats that compromise its existence.
From wonder to devastation
Sir David remembers in the film His first immersion in the great coral reef back in 1957: “I was so amazed by the show that he presented myself in front of me that for a moment I forgot to breathe”. Since then, a catastrophic decline in life in the oceans of the world has occurred. “We are almost out of time,” he warns in the documentary.
For the first time in his career, attentive shows the devastating consequences of industrial fishing without filters. “Ocean” contains some of the most explicit images of the damage that trawling can cause marine seabed. Filming shows how chains dragged by fishing boats devastated the seabed, forcing each creature to enter the nets. “It is difficult to imagine a more expensive way to fish,” he comments bitterly.
A message of hope
But “Ocean” is not just an accusation. Faithful to his approach that has always balanced the complaint with hope, attentive highlights how the ocean can “recover faster than we never imagined”. The history of whales in the world It represents for him a source of enormous optimism.
It is estimated that the whale industry killed 2.9 million whales only in the twentieth century, pushing almost all the species on the edge of extinction. “I remember thinking it was over. There was no way to go back, we had lost the big whales,” says Attenborough. But in 1986 the ban on the commercial hunt for whales allowed a rapid recovery of populations, demonstrating the extraordinary regeneration capacity of marine ecosystems, if left in peace.
A global event
After the world premiere held in London, with the presence of the King of England, the film arrives in Italy. The national premiere will be held a Genoa Saturday 10 Maythanks to the Friends of Genoa Foundationwhich chose the capital of the sea and the Blue Economy For this exclusive and unique event in our country. The projection will see the participation of illustrious guests at national and international level, as well as young and university students interested in environmental issues.
The legacy of a teacher
Keith Schley, who worked with Sir David for 44 years, tells the CNN: “When I met David for the first time, I wore short shorts. It was 1981, two years after he had resigned as director of the BBC programs. He had made a career, and now he was about to start the next”. Despite the advanced age, attentive maintains an extraordinary energy: “Every time you work with David, you learn something new,” says Schley. “It’s really fun. But David always keeps you up with the times, because it’s really smart.”
An appeal to action
The release of the film precedes the World Oceans day and the United Nations Conference on the Oceans of June 2025 in Nice. In this context, “Ocean” wants to be a powerful awareness tool to push leaders to act firmly on the promise to protect a third of the oceans in the world.
“The ocean can return to life,” says Sir David with conviction. “If left alone, it could not only take back, but thrive more than anyone else has ever seen.”
“We face the opportunity to protect our climate, our food, our home,” concludes Attenborough. And while celebrating his 99th birthday, he continues his mission tirelessly: to protect the natural world and show it in all its truth often difficult to accept. A witness of the time that, with the work of a life, has given us not only images of immense value but above all the awareness that we can still save the ocean and, with it, our future.
