Private Project

The Ponds

Twelve months, four seasons, spent with the year-round swimmers at the enigmatic, gender-segregated ponds on Hampstead Heath, London

  • Patrick McLennan
    Director
  • Samuel Smith
    Director
  • Patrick McLennan
    Writer
  • Patrick McLennan
    Producer
  • Samuel Smith
    Producer
  • Christopher Hird
    Executive Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 16 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    October 19, 2018
  • Production Budget:
    124,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Distribution Information
  • Dartmouth Films
    Country: United Kingdom
    Rights: Theatrical
Director Biography - Patrick McLennan, Samuel Smith

Patrick McLennan:
Patrick is a London-based producer/director who has worked as a journalist and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as digital editor for Time Inc UK’s TV magazines.

He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, David Byrne, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Katie Hopkins and is currently co-producing and directing The Ponds, due to complete in summer 2018. A keen outdoor swimmer, he's knocked off the Solent Channel and the River Dart 10K and is contemplating swimming the English Channel. He is also currently development producer for factual entertainment series, Flower Boss, for Time Inc Productions.

Samuel Smith:
Samuel is a London-based, award-winning director/producer. With more than a decade of experience in a rich variety of genres his work has been broadcast on Sky, Channel 4 and MTV among others. Starting his career in live music he has worked with artists such as Biffy Clyro, The Killers, Arctic Monkeys, Primal Scream, Kasabian, Dave Grohl, Jane's Addiction, Iggy Pop and Pixies, as well as music brands such as NME, Shazam, Universal and Warner Bros.
He has directed advertising content for Guinness, AMEX, Adidas, Debenhams, Renault, Windows10, Pandora, Longines, McCain, Max Factor, L'Oreal for a variety of London agencies.

Samuel was awarded the Martial Arts Illustrated Hall of Fame Award for action directing in 2017 and his latest action short film, I Am Not the Devil, has won six awards and 11 nominations worldwide.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The Ponds is an observational documentary about the swimmers who take the waters all year round at three enigmatic ponds – the Ladies’ Pond, the Mixed Pond and the Men’s Pond – on Hampstead Heath, north London, an experience that has barely changed in the 200 years since Keats and Constable immortalised them.

We filmed over 12 months, focusing on the people who swim there to relax, revive and recuperate.

The narrative drive of the film is provided by diverse characters who are dealing with a range of physical, emotional and psychological ailments. We track these colourful characters as they reflect on life and love while getting involved in set-pieces like the iconic Christmas Day Race at the Men’s Pond (first held in 1895).

Research into the effects of cold water immersion is emerging and these people believe deeply in the therapeutic benefits of the ponds. But how exactly have the healing waters helped them? How have their lives changed? What lunacy does it take to swim in 2˚C water on a dark January morning? What will it mean to them to compete in the race on Christmas Day?

The four seasons and their distinct characters are vividly brought to life in The Ponds, while viewers will get a penetrating perspective on the challenges these people face. It's a heart-warming, humane celebration of eccentricity and sheer bloody-mindedness as these unusual people, united by a shared passion, meet to take on whatever the weather… and life… throws at them.

The film has been an indie hit in the UK, screening 155 times since January 2019, with almost 50 sold-out shows. We can't wait to take it to the rest of the world. Hopefully the reaction will be equally as rapturous as it has been in Britain.