The Sailor

As an 80 year old sailor who yearns for the sea and a stiff wind and who still looks at boats-for-sale, this beautifully filmed documentary made me wistful. I, too, am pushing off for my last voyage...DAMN IT. Really good film, but watch it before you are 50 so you can buy a boat and sail...if only on weekends.

Here's a man who chose the freedom of the open ocean as a lifestyle. In a way it chose him, as he was born on a boat. Now at 80, with little money, an old boat and a tired body, Paul Johnson faces the consequences of his lifestyle. Was it worth it? This film does not answer this question or any others. The viewer is left to draw their own conclusions. Elegantly styled as a hybrid of narrative with direct cinema, this film brings the viewer in scene and never lets go. The protagonist's questions are also our own. If not yet, someday we will be in a similar situation, taking stock and reflecting as we face the end of our lives.

This documentary film deserves more than one award in my mind. There's so much more to this film than just following "The Sailor" Paul in his day to day life. The filming introduces visual metaphors by the bucket load and combined with Paul's dialogue makes this a wonderful study on what it is to be human albeit from a the perspective of a hedonistic free spirit who now realises there is a price to pay . There is also a wonderful display of humanity shown by the interaction with the locals who obviously care for Paul and support him as if he was part of their own family and yet not expecting anything for their efforts. A superb cinematic observation on being human, and not a lot about being a sailor. Congratulations to all who put this masterpiece together.

This is a lovely little story, documentary of his life lived just as he wanted. If you are a lover of sailing and familiar with him, it's definitely worth a watch. I won't give anything away here, but it does leave you thinking and wondering and even wandering. The filming is well done, very casual but professional. The scenery is amazing and the dialogue is very youthful in a way that age wises you. I'd classify this as a feel good sort of story and after watching, if you didn't know of him, do look him up because you may just be surprised at what you will find. I am very glad they produced this film and that I watched it.