In A Life Illuminated, marine biologist Dr. Edie Widder embarks on a groundbreaking journey to unveil the mysterious light of bioluminescence – a phenomenon that allows life to communicate in the darkness of the ocean’s depths.
As one of the first women in her field, Edie transformed our understanding of the deep sea, once perceived as a dark and empty void, into a vibrant world filled with life and light. Known for being the first person in history to film bioluminescence in the deep sea, as well as capturing the first-ever footage of the elusive giant squid in its natural habitat, she has changed the way we see our oceans.
Now, she embarks on her most daring expedition yet: a descent 3,300 feet beneath the ocean’s surface to document a mysterious bioluminescent phenomenon she has pursued her entire life – one that could forever alter how we understand life on Earth.
Blending cinematic vérité footage from her journey into the deep with never-before-seen archives from her lifetime of expeditions, the film captures Edie’s quest to reveal the profound beauty of bioluminescence — while emphasizing the urgent need to protect the fragile ecosystems of the deep sea.
In A Life Illuminated, marine biologist Dr. Edie Widder embarks on a groundbreaking journey to unveil the mysterious light of bioluminescence – a phenomenon that allows life to communicate in the darkness of the ocean’s depths.
As one of the first women in her field, Edie transformed our understanding of the deep sea, once perceived as a dark and empty void, into a vibrant world filled with life and light. Known for being the first person in history to film bioluminescence in the deep sea, as well as capturing the first-ever footage of the elusive giant squid in its natural habitat, she has changed the way we see our oceans.
Now, she embarks on her most daring expedition yet: a descent 3,300 feet beneath the ocean’s surface to document a mysterious bioluminescent phenomenon she has pursued her entire life – one that could forever alter how we understand life on Earth.
Blending cinematic vérité footage from her journey into the deep with never-before-seen archives from her lifetime of expeditions, the film captures Edie’s quest to reveal the profound beauty of bioluminescence — while emphasizing the urgent need to protect the fragile ecosystems of the deep sea.
USA
89
2025
WATCH THE TRAILER
IMAGE GALLERY
CREDITS
DIRECTOR
Tasha Van Zandt
PRODUCER
Tasha Van Zandt, Sebastian Zeck, Jessica Harrop, Kathryn Everett
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