SU GOLOGONE: WHERE THE EARTH BREAKS

Un documentario di MASSIMO D'ALESSANDRO

In the heart of the Supramonte, a group of cave divers attempts to go beyond the known limits of the Su Gologone resurgence. Violent currents, extreme depths, and submerged passages turn every dive into a confrontation with the unknown.

intervista di Mario Mazzoli, General Manager A.S.S.O. e produttore esecutivo del documentario, sull'esplorazione di Su Gologone e le difficoltà tecniche incontrate nella realizzazione del film

Where the Water Disappears into the Mountain

In the heart of Sardinia, the Supramonte boasts a rugged and spectacular landscape. Beneath the limestone plateaus flows a network of underground waters that remains partly unknown. One of these resurfaces at Su Gologone, emerging from a deep fissure in the rock. On the surface, the spring appears clear and still. A few meters below, however, lies a cold, dark environment swept by currents powerful enough to repel even the most experienced explorers.

An expedition to the limit

"Su Gologone: Where the Earth Splits" follows a group of specialists engaged in a series of cave diving expeditions. The goal is to reach the limit of previous explorations and determine whether the cave continues beyond the point where everyone had stopped. The protagonist of the deepest dives is Alberto Cavedon. After extensive preparation, he will have to advance alone through the submerged environments, relying on a guide line, his instruments, and footage recorded by a microcamera mounted on his helmet.

There is no direct ascent

In cave diving, it is not possible to return immediately to the surface. The only way out is the same route used for entry, and any error in gas management, equipment handling, or decompression can have critical consequences. For this reason, the expedition involves a large team: support cave divers, technicians, videographers, doctors, and rescue specialists. Before each dive, emergency tanks, safety lines, and decompression stops at various depths are set up.

A cave that is constantly changing

Su Gologone never offers the same conditions twice. Rainfall alters the spring's flow; the current can suddenly become violent; sediment reduces visibility and transforms already difficult passages into nearly impassable obstacles. Every step forward depends on the ability to interpret these signs without turning the exploration into a personal battle against the mountain. The documentary illustrates the constant tension between the desire for discovery, caution, and respect for an environment that imposes its own rules.

Three years of waiting, attempts, and returns

The film spans multiple expeditions and chronicles a journey marked by days of inactivity, unfavorable weather conditions, technical problems, and fresh starts. When diving isn't possible, the Supramonte region reveals other stories: karst landscapes, local traditions, and ancient sites linked to the worship of water. The path to the deepest known point does not follow a straight line. Each attempt adds new information, alters the cave's topography, and raises new questions.

How far can an explorer go?

The underwater footage only partially conveys the physical and mental strain of dives that can last many hours. Narrow passages, great depths, opposing currents, and long decompression times make every decision final. The documentary maintains the narrative's tension and does not reveal the outcome of the explorations in advance. The viewer follows the team to the threshold of the unknown, while the cave continues to hide what lies beyond the known limits.

A human story even before it is a sporting one

"Su Gologone: Where the Earth Splits" is not a celebration of a record. It is the story of a community of explorers, of the trust required to operate in an extreme environment, and of the weight that any unforeseen event can place on the entire group. Passion, skill, and fragility coexist in a story in which discovery cannot be separated from responsibility toward one's companions and from the memory of those who contributed to the exploration.

AWARDS:

• Premio come migliore documentario all'evento SPELEONOTTE 2013
• Selezione ufficiale SPELAION Festival 2012

CREDITS:

• SU GOLOGONE: DOVE LA TERRA SI SPACCA 
• un documentario di Massimo D'Alessandro 
• Consulenza Scientifica di Alberto Cavedon, Leo Fancello, Mario Mazzoli 
• Produzione esecutiva: Maria Teresa Pilloni 
• Riprese video: Stefano Barbaresi, Fabio Ferro, Marco Vitelli 
• Montaggio e Regia: Massimo D'Alessandro 
• Musiche: Edizioni Flipper Music 
• Formato HDV 16:9 
•  Durata: 45 minuti 
• Una produzione A.S.S.O. (Archeologia Subacquea Speleologia Organizzazione) 
• Copyright 2012
• Luoghi principali: risorgenza di Su Gologone, Oliena, Supramonte, Sardegna
• Temi: speleologia subacquea, esplorazione, acque carsiche, sicurezza, rebreather, rilievo topografico