Audrey Mestre from France was one of the most popular freedivers in the world. On October 12, 2002, in the Dominican Republic, she tried to break the record in free diving to 171 meters. However, not everything went as she planned. The mechanism that was supposed to help her ascend failed and she lost consciousness while still under the water’s surface. Her life could not be saved. She was 28 years old then.
Netflix created a film in memory of Audrey Mestre. What exactly is “Apnea” about?
The tragic events became an inspiration for David M. Rosenthal, who was commissioned to create a film dedicated to the memory of the tragically deceased swimmer. On September 9, 2022, the website debuted in the website’s library, the main character of which is Roxana, who is madly in love with the world champion in free diving, Pascal. Her beloved introduces her to the world of sports and supports her in the often risky pursuit of success in competitions held in various parts of the world. Everything is going well until the woman becomes “completely absorbed in a passionate romance.”
The production became a hit almost immediately and for the first two weeks after its premiere it was on the podium of the TOP10 most popular on the platform. However, the unflagging admiration of viewers and critics was not shared by the swimmer’s widower, Francisco “Pipín” Ferreras. He believed that the film distorted reality and decided to sue the streaming giant for violating his personal rights. What exactly caused the dispute?
Mestre’s widower sued Netflix. He claims that “Apnea” violates his good name
Ferreras’ main complaint was that in “Apnea” there were insinuations that he contributed to Mestre’s death. In the letter received by Netflix, the production company Nolita Cinéma and the director explained that, among others, about the way their relationship was portrayed. He stated that he was portrayed as a possessive and toxic partner who tries to take control of his successful beloved. He also did not like the topic of violence in a relationship, including: about Pascal choking Roxana during an intimate encounter. However, the scene in which, just before the tragic immersion, her husband “tinkered” with the air tank, added fuel to the fire.
The fact is that Ferreras was suspected years ago by public opinion of tampering in the case, this was mentioned, among others, by: people close to the couple in a documentary film released just after the accident. However, the creators of “Apnea” emphasized from the beginning that Mester’s story was only an inspiration for them, and everything else was a figment of the imagination. – It is a fictional story based on events that were well known to the public through articles, documentaries and books. I created a fictional story with fictional characters. I’m sure Ferras is just trying to get something for himself and get money from Netflix – Rosenthal in an interview with Variety, adding that the whole thing was consulted with lawyers. Ultimately, the case went quiet and it is not known whether it was resolved. If you feel like it, vote in our poll below.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
