IMDb 7.9 2020 HD

Descent

Descent

2020
Documentary
60 min NR USA
4 / 10
7.9 IMDB

Dutch ice freediver Kiki Bosch swims in the world's coldest waters without a wetsuit as therapy for a trauma she experienced, and to inspire others.

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Nays Baghai
Starring
Kiki Bosch / Stefan Andrews / Mikael Koski / Wim Hof

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

inspiring chilling powerful raw intense emotional courageous resilient thought-provoking stark meditative challenging

Reviews

C
Clara Montgomery
Apr 3, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

The icy waters of 'Descent' serve as both the setting and the metaphor for Kiki Bosch's journey of healing. Her dedication to ice freediving as therapy for trauma is the film's driving force. Bosch delivers a performance of…

A
Arthur Finch
Apr 3, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

'Descent' is a potent and profoundly moving testament to the power of the human spirit. Kiki Bosch's commitment to ice freediving as a means of therapeutic healing is nothing short of extraordinary. The film captures the sheer, unadulterated…

G
Genevieve Dubois
Apr 3, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

This film, 'Descent', presents a fascinating, if somewhat minimalist, exploration of Kiki Bosch's ice freediving as a therapeutic tool. The premise itself is compelling: using the extreme cold to confront and process deep-seated trauma. Bosch embodies her role…

M
Marcus Bellweather
Apr 3, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

'Descent' offers a bracingly intimate portrait of Kiki Bosch's therapeutic journey through extreme ice freediving. The film doesn't shy away from the raw, visceral experience of confronting trauma through the shock of the cold. Bosch's performance is one…

E
Eleanor Vance
Apr 3, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

Kiki Bosch's unflinching dive into the frigid depths is the undeniable centrepiece of 'Descent'. The film bravely documents her therapeutic ice freediving, a practice undertaken to heal from past trauma. While the visual spectacle of someone willingly immersing…

FAQs

'Descent' vividly illustrates the immense mental fortitude demanded by ice freediving. Kiki Bosch's practice is not simply about physical endurance; it is a profound act of mental discipline. The film highlights the internal battle against fear, the overwhelming physical sensations of extreme cold, and the unwavering focus required to remain calm and controlled underwater. Bosch's commitment to this challenging therapy underscores the power of the human mind to overcome perceived limitations and to find solace and strength through confronting intense, elemental conditions.