The extraordinary life of Valerie Taylor, a diving pioneer, shark lover, expert photographer and tireless fighter for marine conservation.
Valerie Taylor’s story questions all sorts of stereotypes about women’s roles and the limits of humans. Fascinated by sharks, Taylor opened up new avenues for underwater exploration and even filmed real-life action scenes for Spielberg's film Jaws. She is currently an octogenarian who keeps her youthful spark alive and, unbelievably, continues to dive with her iconic fuchsia wetsuit.
The extraordinary archival material shows us a lush seabed that has been depleted by human voracity. The colors of the underwater landscape from decades ago shine like never before with 16mm analogue film. The beauty of the images reveals a mysterious world in which sharks are not fierce enemies but intelligent living beings. Taylor's courageous work breaks down prejudices and misunderstandings about the ocean's main predator. Passionate, endearing and honest, Valerie Taylor gives us a lesson in humility about the position of the human species within the planet’s enormous ecological diversity.
