An eloquent reminder that expertise is earned, this observational documentary from the US filmmakers Nick Paley and Dawn Kim explores the thrills and frustrations of taking on a new challenge – from swimming, to archery, to flying a plane – at any age.
From crawling to flying, the agony and ecstasy of trying to learn something new
Directors: Nick Paley, Dawn Kim
Editor: Saela Davis
Sound Design & Mix: Chris Foster
Music: Benoît Pioulard

videoGender
Defying social pressure, a woman commits herself to lobster fishing and the sea
11 minutes

videoLife stages
Harlem’s over-55s synchronised swimming team thinks ageing is better in the pool
4 minutes

videoProgress and modernity
Two young Bushmen grapple with the possibility of transitioning to modern lives
29 minutes

videoConsciousness and altered states
A neurologist finds peace and happiness in the feeling of constant acceleration
16 minutes

videoSports and games
Dances with whales: the ethereal underwater vistas of an elite freediving team
13 minutes

videoSelf-improvement
Runners drop their guards and confess their deepest anxieties and greatest hopes
12 minutes

videoLove and friendship
Skiing blind is a challenge – but it helps to have a loved one to guide you
20 minutes

videoBeauty and aesthetics
Finding chaos and precision in all things – a philosophy of watchmaking
9 minutes

videoBiography and memoir
As her world unravels, Pilar wonders at the ‘sacred geometry’ that gives it structure
20 minutes