Breaking Surface (2020)
Breaking Surface (2020)
Liner Notes
Breaking Surface marked my third collaboration with writer-director Joachim Hedén. Since most of the film takes place underwater, we crafted a score that captured a dark, immersive underwater atmosphere—evoking the feeling of being alone in a cold, silent abyss with no one around to help.
The story follows two sisters with a complicated family history, setting out on a trip meant to mend their strained relationship. To reflect this emotional journey, I composed a musical motif using two celli—each representing one sister—gradually converging: the higher cello descending in pitch, the lower one ascending. The result became a signature technique in the film’s score, symbolizing their attempt to reconnect.
To enhance the tension and sense of entrapment, we incorporated heavy brass to represent the massive rock pinning one of the sisters to the ocean floor. As the narrative intensifies, the score’s underlying “ticking clock” rhythm steadily accelerates, building suspense and drama.
Scoring Breaking Surface was a rewarding creative challenge, blending conceptual ideas with emotional storytelling. The film was sold in 75 countries, and its success led to an English-language remake titled The Dive.
Credits
Directed by Joachim Hedén
Produced by Way Feature Films, Umedia, and Film i Skåne
Starring
Moa Gammel, Madeleine Martin, and Trine Wiggen
