theguardian.com
Return to the Sea: Cornish Film Explores Time, Fate, and Fishing
Mark Jenkin's new film, set in a Cornish fishing village, features the reappearance of a long-lost trawler, sending a crew back in time to 1993, where they face altered realities and grapple with their place within the community.
- What is the central conflict in Jenkin's film, and what are its immediate consequences for the characters?
- The central conflict is the return of a ghost ship, the Rose of Nevada, which inexplicably transports two crew members, Nick and Liam, back to 1993. This causes Nick significant distress as he witnesses Liam readily adapt to this new reality, marrying the mother of a woman he previously flirted with. The film highlights the characters' struggle with the altered timeline and their differing reactions to the situation.
- How does Jenkin's unique filmmaking style contribute to the film's themes of time, fate, and the fishing community?
- Jenkin employs a quasi-primitivist aesthetic, using 16mm film and hand-developed prints, creating a dreamlike quality. This mirrors the characters' experience of the time-slip, blurring the lines between reality and illusion. The grainy texture of the film itself serves as a metaphor for the uncertainty and ambiguity at the heart of the narrative.
- What broader societal or generational implications does the film explore, and what are its potential interpretations?
- The film explores the ambivalent attitudes of younger generations towards the precarious livelihoods of their parents in the fishing industry. Nick's horror at Liam's acceptance of the past might represent a generational conflict in values, and the ambiguous ending leaves open interpretations about the nature of reality, premonition, and the possibility of altering fate.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The review focuses on the film's unique style and themes, highlighting Jenkin's distinct approach and the film's unconventional narrative structure. The emphasis is on the film's artistic merit and its exploration of complex themes, rather than a plot summary or a straightforward evaluation of its scariness. This framing could lead viewers to appreciate the film's artistic aspects more than its conventional horror elements.
Language Bias
The language used is largely positive and descriptive, employing words like "arresting," "eerie," "uncanny," and "bold." While these terms are subjective, they contribute to a generally enthusiastic tone. There's no overtly negative or loaded language used to describe the film or its characters.
Bias by Omission
The review focuses primarily on the film's artistic and thematic elements, potentially omitting a detailed discussion of the plot's specifics or the performances of the actors. It also doesn't delve into potential criticisms of the film's pacing or ambiguity. This omission, however, could be due to space constraints and a focus on conveying the film's overall essence rather than a comprehensive analysis.
Sustainable Development Goals
The film directly addresses the precarious livelihoods of fishers, highlighting the challenges of working in a declining industry and the impact on their families and communities. The return of the lost trawler and the subsequent time-travel element allows for a reflection on the choices and potential alternate realities for the characters, particularly regarding their career paths and relationships with their families. The film also touches upon the community's dependence on the fishing industry and the consequences of its decline.