WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
Meaning. Purpose. Remembering. All facets of our existence that so often become focal points to hone in on, especially in times of hardship or at least just while seeking solace. We WANT to KNOW there was substance to where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re still heading. Yet, in can be plagued by the missteps of our past, things left unsaid or unresolved, and that may come back for us to have no choice but to face them. Question is–WILL we? In a small coastal town, where the sea (Daisy Haggard) speaks as loudly as the people who reside near it, two estranged friends–Joe (Harry Michell) and Katherine (Maddie Rice)–have found their way back into each other’s lives. Over the course of one single day together, they discover reminiscing which takes them both through what’s done and what is–potentially rekindling and redefining that which had been lost so long ago, even as the sea weighs in on what it thinks about life’s journey.
Next, my Mind:
Poetic, atmospheric, affecting, and a beautifully orchestrated allegorical study in our need for human connection, the rekindling of bonds, and the reconciliation of the soul, this intelligent and creatively executed yet uncomplicated 20-minute short film from writer/director/producer Benjamin Verrall, writers/producers/editors Kate Auster and Ruth Marshall, plus writer/producer Amelia Rowcroft deftly paints an impactful tapestry encompassing reminiscing and inner redemption that we ALL could use a lesson from in a world so currently filled with self-serving attitudes and careless underappreciation for those whose lives we’ve impacted in the past to a potentially negative degree. As one of the honored selections to have screening space at the 20th Anniversary HollyShorts Film Festival, which runs August 8th-18th at the renowned TCL Chinese Theater, Los Angeles, it is one of those films this critic seriously hopes has the effect on viewers that it did for me.
Finding its footing through a narrative addressing a reunion of longstanding but somewhat alienated friends in the small seaside town they grew up in and the subsequent day they spend together that turns into a highly revealing yet desperately requisite cathartic journey, the film’s perfect pacing allows us to be swallowed up by the pair’s conversation and accompanying activities while also being given a more unique perspective on events as well–the sea itself. This is where the aforementioned allegorical approach comes into play, since the wind, waves, and shoreline merge to form a character in themselves, narrating truths about not just the two lead’s interactions, but also about life as a whole, adding a fantastical yet wholly relevant facet to the narrative which completely ups the emotional quotient being delivered. The aura of tension, playfulness, discovery, admission, and ultimately release that comes from all we witness is simply magical and realistic, something indie cinema excels at providing to us with a magnitude of consistency so deeply needed.
The other element utilized with adeptness throughout the film, also associated with the sea as narrator, is the metaphorical explorations about existence that are offered on top of everything already being presented, referencing itself as the source of this, and it was this particular aspect of the narrative’s course that not only mirrors the two primary character’s relationship here, but also lends a stirringly contemplative purpose that compels you as the viewer to genuinely take stock of the messages being conveyed. Watching the film will make this even clearer, even as thematic turns that cover the entire concepts of reuniting with someone, the awkwardness it can actually entail, the habit of just talking “typical” things as opposed to what’s really boiling under the surface, how we often see others and can assume certain things errantly, the hurts we do to those closest to us, even if unintentional or spoken in the heat of a moment, and the fully potent strength of forgiveness are all addressed to the appropriate extents and are undeniably relatable.
The cinematography captures the essence of the sea with a persuasively excellent touch, making you sincerely FEEL it AS a character and just soak in its majesty and wisdom, and how this again ties into the grander tale is fantastic, leading to a finale that is nothing short of wholeheartedly moving and accessible. Michell has that always welcome “everyman” demeanor here as Joe, a man whose life has remained, perhaps in some people’s eyes, quite straightforward and potentially unfulfilled based on what he shares in reconnecting with a precious friend whom he has missed and regretted hurting in their former years. Still satisfied that he’s alive and making a living, the evident envy he might feel for how Katherine’s life has gone gets replaced by the empathy and desire to make things right that will guide every dimension of their time together, ideally to bring about a peace longed for. I loved how Michell carries off the character with affability, honesty, humor, and dramatic flair, eliciting you to pull for him and the serenity he’s really seeking.
In a similar manner, Rice imbues her performance with an equal amount of poise and believability while also demonstrating a more confidently yet vulnerable attitude through her role as Katherine, a now successful family woman whose chosen to spend a day catching up with Joe since she’s in town again. She is the one that’s more intent on trying to plumb the past depths of their friendship in many respects, and tries here and there to do that as they banter and enjoy activities and conversation, but it is nearer to the end of their time that things get REAL, and by revisiting the main event that had torn them apart all those years ago, it opens them BOTH up to hopefully encounter the tranquilization of buried pain and resentments in order to experience necessary healing and exoneration. I adored Rice’s “girl next door” manner being paired with the portrait of a strong, independently spirited woman, as it played so well off of Michell’s more laid back Joe, and like him, Rice makes you want to entirely root for her to also find the inward peace she’s actually been longing for.
The primary supporting “appearance” is of course made by Haggard, who via voice only as the Sea, becomes a natural muse who infuses the narrative with such an elevated, subtle-yet-powerful air of both wonder and grounded verity that parallels Joe and Katherine’s discourses to an impeccable and dynamic level that pulls you in like a riptide. So, in total, “Shouting At The Sea” ebbs and flows with the energy of its namesake, illustrating bygone choices, the consequences of them, the unearthing of inner anguish, the joys of becoming reacquainted, and the newly realized freedom that arrives when integrity, confession, and understanding win the day.
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
