The Vessel

It is ten years after a tsunami devastated a small seaside town which destroyed the school and killed the children. Father Douglas (Martin Sheen) had started a few years before the tragedy and failed to lift the community from its grief. There are no children in what remained of the town and no one is having any more. Out of the blue, a ship sculpture appears out of nowhere, created from the destroyed school.

Apparently, this was filmed in two version either in English or Spanish. That's some old school filmmaking from the early sound era. I only know Martin Sheen in the cast. The other actors are unknown to me, but they all do great work. The subject matter is grief and all that comes with that. Terrence Malick is one of the executive producers and this film does have his dreamlike feel. This dares to tackle this tough subject and not all it is to my liking. I still appreciate those parts for the attempt.

A beautiful and powerful story, in my opinion. Wonderfully acted, beautifully photographed, and evokes moods and feelings whether one is religious or not. A nice break from the American shoot 'em ups.

I've have been more entertained washing lettuce and filming it drying would have been a more fulfilling movie experience. This is what you get when you let a monkey play with a typewriter. Martin Sheen looked suitably embarrassed delivering some of the lines.

This film was full of surprises, all the way to the ending (no spoilers here). The storytelling is masterful, making events unfold organically; no visual detail is wasted; the loose ends tie up in unexpected ways. The four main characters are all well acted and a pleasure to watch. Martin Sheen's nuanced portrayal of the village priest makes the character feel complex and believably human, a flawed good man. I think two of the things I liked best about this film were the setting and the ensemble cast. Both the setting (a seaside village in Puerto Rico), and the ensemble's role as the entire small population of the village -- both function critically as "main characters" influencing the story. For a setting-as-character analogy, think how "Niagara"'s setting figures into its plot. The villagers as a group function almost with a "hive mind" spreading gossip instantaneously and acting as a kind of emotionally synchronized swarm. See this film if you are prepared to deal with deeper questions about human suffering and redemption. (If you loved "Sausage Party" then this film probably isn't for you).

Full disclosure ... This is my first IMDb review. I'm just trying to do my part to help promote this little known film. I attend the same church as the parents of the director, but I do not know them.

If you like all the recent superhero flicks, or you like Michael Bay films, then this movie is not for you. This movie causes you to feel sadness in a way that is painful, yet worthwhile. There are many moments of silence, broken only by the sounds of the sea. The key religious question is: Why do bad things happen to good people? This movie explores that question, yet does not beat you over the head with any answers. If this seems appealing to you, then please see this film, and send your friends to see it too.