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AQUADETTES: On Life, Death, and Synchronized Swimming

A film by Drea Cooper & Zackary Canepari

Credits

1,595 Likes

Susanna Corniani
4 hours ago
nathan mulready
9 hours ago
Gishe Marin
2 days ago
ohbrother
3 days ago
drew dunlop
4 days ago
Mark Brown
4 days ago
Meyer Weitzman
4 days ago
Lassi Häkkinen
5 days ago
gretchen
5 days ago
Yemi Bamiro
5 days ago

Tags

Chris Hillock 7 months ago

Love it! Fantastic story. Great journalism!
Tucker Walsh 7 months ago

Seriously, this what journalism needs to do more of.
Sahar Sarshar 7 months ago

i third this comment!!!!!!
Morning Fog Films™ 7 months ago

I will the be 4th to agree. I believe we need more stories of a journalistic nature that explore and issue rather than exploit it. Well done!
Taylor Smith 7 months ago

5th'd!
Brandon Tauszik 2 months ago

......6th
Anthony Chopin 1 month ago

A truly amazing story. The biggest impact for me is that its refreshing to see an entirely legitimate use of medicinal marijuana. Not to say that those out there using medicinal weed are faking an illness just to get a prescription, but its not just another airy fairy reason being used to try and get weed legalized. People preach about its medicinal effects where they don't really have a real reason other than they want it legalized. Its great to see that there are people solving real issues with it and not using it as leverage for legalization. The fact that she is able to enjoy a better quality of life is outstanding and its awesome that you got to be a part of documenting it.

Very well told and produced! Congratulations.
Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka 1 month ago

7th ....
Brandon Bloch 7 months ago

Best one yet. Really humanizes the issue.
Tim Sessler 7 months ago

Absolutely! Amazing Film!! Reminds me a bit of "Age of the Champions" - though that's by far not as deep.
Tucker Walsh 6 months ago

I'll join the D.C. bandwagon - incredible storytelling. And stellar journalism. One of my favorites so far!
Ty Swanson 7 months ago

amazing story. dam you guys do great stuff.
Leszek Pietrzak 7 months ago

I adore every single one of your videos but this one has actually rendered me speechless. Also love the direction and the camera work.
preventionspeaks 7 months ago

Shows again that stories are the most powerful way we have to get people to care. I am fighting tears after seeing this, and my thoughts are racing about how to live a life filled with obstacles.
Blake Whitman 7 months ago

amazing story. you guys killed it, as always.
California is a place. 7 months ago

Right on Blake. Thanks for watching!
Short of the Week 7 months ago

Enjoy everything you all do. Thanks.
+
vimeo.com/channels/shortoftheweek
Andrea Allen 7 months ago

This is my new favorite video on Vimeo. I can only hope to be that graceful when I grow up.
Jami Smith 7 months ago

BEAUTIFUL WORK! You captured her story amazingly...the whole video was magnetic and alluring.
Sam Morrill 7 months ago

I think a 'California is a place.' channel is past due.
California is a place. 7 months ago

I thought we set up a channel, many moons ago. Did we miss something?

Also, is there some way to organize our vids into separate sections for the public?
Sam Morrill 7 months ago

I stand corrected. It looks like you did: vimeo.com/channels/115780

Hasn't been updated in a little while, though. Give it a snazzy badge and we'll add it to the list of featured channels:

vimeo.com/faq#customize_channel
California is a place. 7 months ago

Hey Sam - the channel is all updated. Thanks man.
Alex Trimpe 7 months ago

It's nice seeing something about synchronized swimmers. Little is known about them.
Karen Abad 7 months ago
Eduard Taberner 7 months ago

u havn't words to descrive how aawesome this video is right?
Weldon Byrns 7 months ago

Wow...really good!
Daniel Gachter 7 months ago

Brilliant storytelling. Bravo!
Jaramy Carmody 7 months ago

She floats and I float with her. Great job!
Marina LeClair 7 months ago

Fantastic work all around !
Hassan Saddiq 7 months ago

Wow. Crazzyyy story

I thought it would just be a video about synchronized swimming but than you had the "sub plots" of how it helps her with her MS and how medical marijuana helps her

very interesting documentary, loved it!
Equiliser 7 months ago

very moving work...well done
Adam Hobbs 7 months ago

very powerful thank you!
Ben Gordon 7 months ago

Anything CIAP does is alright with me.
Great work yet again.
Nathan Wilson 7 months ago

Unbelievable!
Meeka Rahman 7 months ago

There is something honest about this documentary. I'm weirdly drawn to it. Great job!
Marcus O'Brien 7 months ago

One of the many messages that comes through from this brilliant story - take your grandma surfing.

Superb storytelling, cinematography and editing - a fine example of our craft, well done guys
Jan Keck | Red Gecko Productions 7 months ago

I love your work! You're one of the best storytellers on vimeo in my opinion! Have you ever thought of doing some behind-the-scenes?
Bogdan Lucian 7 months ago

great movie!
Alexander Meron 7 months ago

great movie and amazing story, love!
David Ayling 7 months ago

I'm inspired, remarkable
Rabi Abonour 7 months ago

I've always found your work incredibly inspirational, so know that I am speaking as a huge fan when I say that I actually didn't think this was up to the standards of some of your work.

The story of a woman coping with MS is an interesting one. However, the way you chose to handle it left me wanting. The way you weaved together her illness, her passion for synchronized swimming, and her turn to medical marijuana felt awkward to me. I didn't get a sense of a clear structure to the piece - it seemed to jump between the different aspects.

The idea is here, but I don't personally believe the execution is up the standards you've set for yourself with pieces like El Rey and Cannonball.
Matt Schwarz 7 months ago

Seriously amazing work guys.
Kris Peter 7 months ago

Wow!!!! Unreal, I love that woman and love how you were able to capture the essence of human nature; one particularly kick ass human.
Angeline Gragasin 7 months ago

Great storytelling. Important work. Forge onward. Love.
Benjamin Barfoot 7 months ago

This was one of the best things I've seen on vimeo. Excellent work! I found it very moving, a young californian girl in an old woman's body.
xavierxawa 7 months ago

I love this Esther William of today: alive and full of inner beauty..
Cian McKenna 7 months ago

Beautifully crafted piece and most importantly very moving, well done to all involved
Alex Gino 7 months ago

Lovely story, so moving. Captures so many people's anxieties about getting old.
Tom Banks 7 months ago

The ending to this piece is great, very well done.
Marta Oliveira 7 months ago

Amazing story and doc!... Become fun of "Aquadettes" and "California is a Place"!! Congrats
Adriana de Barros 7 months ago

Thanks for filming this inspirational story.
Rica O 7 months ago

Quite interesting. And I thought it was just about swimming, boy was I wrong. It was about a message of life and the ability to find ways to cope and surpass obstacles that may come in the way. Nice work!
martincg 7 months ago

Is 75 years of experiences enough to be young ?
Setthefire 7 months ago

WOW! Just WOW! thank you for sharing this.
Chris Luong 7 months ago

Simply beautiful work. This is the kind of work i aim to do!
Simone Perra 7 months ago

I really like, very good work!!
Lori Calabria 7 months ago

Oh, you guys - this was beautiful!
Mr.LEE PICTURES 7 months ago

awesome. respect to your work.

Everything in this work is so Good !

beautiful story, beautiful music & edit , shots.

again, Much Respect to your work.
pairsis 7 months ago

Love the storytelling.
Stanislav Mayboroda 7 months ago

Bravo!
Jocie Cox 7 months ago

This is really wonderful! Your work never disappoints.
jose lara 7 months ago

Very nice video!!
Tamsee 7 months ago

Made me bawl... Beautiful.
En Plein Air 7 months ago

Nice one i love the music wonderful works guys
Keith Wells 7 months ago

Wow. I started watching this one a couple days ago when you posted it...had to run out the door a couple minutes in and figured it was a light-hearted piece on senior synchronized swimming. Just got a chance to watch the whole thing and I'm left speechless. In response to Rabi, I think that the lack of structure is what is brilliant about this...it's about synchronized swimming...and medicinal marijuana...and the health care system...and aging...but above all, it is about the human experience.

Anybody can buy a 5D and take pretty pictures but if anyone is doing a better job at conveying what it means to live and breathe in CA than these two I have yet to see it. Well done as always.
Robert Vinet 6 months ago

Very well done!
Nico Peden 6 months ago

absolutely loved this. this really gives a great depiction of what seniors are going through especially when they have a disease like MS. this lady really gives hope. just because you are getting older doesnt mean life's over.
Karen 6 months ago

I bumped onto this video and was waiting to be wowed by heartwarming stories and eye pleasing imagery.
I was overwhelmed by Margo.
Portable 6 months ago

Really great video, we've written an article about it, thanks Drea and Zack xp

portable.tv/talks/post/aquadettes-on-life-death-and-synchronised-swimming/
Heimo Aga 6 months ago

Something that will concern all of us, sooner or later: how to age gracefully and in peace with the World and ourselves. Great job!
Salade & Loukoum - Production 6 months ago

Really great report, love it !
5D mII filming ? What was the sound system you use to record the interview ? The sound is really clear, almost no noise.
Verbal Frame 6 months ago

Wonderful piece of story telling and visuals! Truly a lesson for us all. Great work.
Oleg Volkov 6 months ago

Wow... I'm speechless!
Ryan Tatar 6 months ago

Fantastic. Thought provoking...
RootCat 6 months ago

Brillliant! >^_^
Vanessa Naylon 6 months ago

Love this video. Felt it was mis-titled, though. The way it's put together, it's about a woman getting losing her strength as she gets older and finding ways to cope with it. It's not really about synchronized swimming, though the swimming photography is quite fun to watch.
Desrumaux Celine 6 months ago

Super cool !
Dan Cole 6 months ago

Impressive, absolutely astonishing. I've loved this whole series, and I can say it's truly inspired me, but this is by far one of the best.

Theres a slight sorrow in me, because I just can't help but to want bring Mrs. Bouer surfing with me.
Tania Oro-Hahn 6 months ago

I love your video. I found it thought provoking and gorgeous.
GÜL ARI 6 months ago

we all have to think twice being alive. This is real & intensive. great
Collective Hunch 6 months ago

Your filmmaking is inspirational! It proves my theory that documentary can be as lyrical, beautiful and compelling as fiction film. Right on!
Portable 6 months ago

As always, we love your stuff!
portable.tv/talks/post/aquadettes-on-life-death-and-synchronised-swimming/
bigdecision 6 months ago

it has something of pathetic but at the same time beautiful and funny. lovely story, lovely old woman. someone to look up to probably.
marzio mirabella 5 months ago

Great story!
WEREHAUS 5 months ago

awesome, as always
Julien Marie 5 months ago

New post about this video : julienmarie.fr/2011/californian-girl/
Bill Newsinger 5 months ago

Brill!!!!
Christian Ebeling 5 months ago

Great lady! One of the best documentary I have ever seen on vimeo.
Hana Backland 4 months ago

absolutely wonderful
Nick Young | FOREGROUND 4 months ago
Constantinos Tseklenis 3 months ago

Great Work ... I'll share it with journalists here in Greece ... Grest story ... Besides we shouldn't forget that drugs were invented for medicine purposes and they should be free and legal ... Prohibiting their use makes things worse for our kids and the society in general ... Thanks !!!
numaga 3 months ago

Awesome story, well filmed, great documentary. Featured on the homepage of numaga.com!
Carlos Canhisares 2 months ago

You guys are the best!!! I am a BIG FAN of all you do!!!! Congrats once again!!!
aleigh lewis 2 months ago

this is soooooo good. an exquisite mix of poetry and documentary.
Daily Kitchen 2 months ago

Bellissimo!
Josh Patterson 1 month ago

Damn... This story and the way you told it just made my day. Keep up the great work
Make No Little Plans Productions 1 month ago

Wow
AL&LINDQVIST 1 month ago

A touching documantary film! That was an accurate observation of the real human life. Your social story gives a whole number of ideas. One can be impelled to think of something everlasting that helps to distinguish the essence from the immaterial. Whether intentionally or not, you've taken advantages of a brilliant symbol of instantaneity, cyclicity and steadiness -- the water. Was it your author's message? Or did it happen to be so? Splendid!
JordanShip 1 month ago

Congratulations from Italy... Simply wonderful...