How Deep Is the Ocean

As an American watching an indie drama set in Australia, I was distracted by the beauty of the country and the intricacies and struggles of Australian life. While we can all relate with the struggles of everyday life I found it interesting seeing such portrayals in a world I'm unfamiliar with.

Olivia fiddles is an excellent actress in portraying the struggles and realities of life. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to walk out on my job but never had to guts to do so; it was satisfying seeing her pull the trigger on what I couldn't do.

The film takes a very impromptu approach in its film making style. The scenes seem to almost unfold naturally as Olivia deals with the struggles that director, Andrew Walsh, dishes at her time and time again! If you're interested in seeing the struggles of a young Australian coming of age definitely give How Deep is the Ocean a try!

This film is probably a common tragic story for wandering youth or young adults where the protagonist Eleanor seems to aimlessly drift from one pointless human encounter striving to find some meaning or happiness.

We know fairly little about her apart from her broken family history back in Adelaide and interestingly she spurns the advances of the one character who may likely give her the comfort and security that she really needs in her wandering life.

Despite the occasionally obvious improv dialogue the film actually has a more realistic script than many indie films that try to create natural speech interactions and results in a jumble of words that people often use if conversation.

How Deep is the Ocean is a thoughtful film that does a good job of exploring the loneliness that runaway youth or drifters experience each day. The long unbroken scene takes will likely challenge those with a 3 second attention span but the beauty is in the ability to stop and watch the characters closely and in this Director Andrew Walsh gives us full serving.

Good depiction of Melbourne and what to expect if you're moving here with little in your pocket. Impro style works well and the space it creates draws you in to the story and the characters. Andrew Walsh makes a lot of films typically set in Melbourne, depicting raw characters and this is his first feature, which he has pulled off in great style. I'm sure this will open doors to more! The locations work well, the characters are strong and the actors portraying the characters are good choices. Some faces are familiar, having seen them in other productions and films. Music is very effective too!

As an Aussie, I watch a heck of a lot of Australian Indie films - and I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

Writer/Director Andrew Walsh's debut film 'How Deep is the Ocean' is a character study of a young 20-something, Eleanor, who arrives in Melbourne, Australia, trying to make a new life for herself. Over the course of the next year, we see her drift from job to job and dealing with low-life Aussie men.

There's nothing huge or momentous that takes place - it's a simple film about life, love, and simply getting by in this world. Interesting to note is that the film didn't have a full screenplay. The storyline was set, but the actors had to improvise dialogue. This results in a film that feels genuine, even if a little awkward at times.

Worth a look!

"How Deep is the Ocean" is a slice-of-life drama that follows Eleanor, a young woman in her early twenties, as she moves from Adelaide to a new city, grappling with loneliness and the search for identity. Faced with an unreliable, alcoholic roommate and a rundown room, Eleanor's life feels far from ideal, and her struggles with connection and finding meaningful work are palpable.

The film opens with stunning shots of flowing water, setting the tone for a narrative that is deeply rooted in reality, yet unafraid to embrace life's more poetic moments. The music is thoughtfully crafted, complementing the film's beautiful cinematography. The performances are grounded, authentic, and lived-in, giving the film emotional depth.

I absolutely loved this movie, especially its structure, which feels like a collection of vignettes centered around the people Eleanor encounters. It reminds me of how I reflect on my own youth. It's refreshing to see truly independent films like "How Deep is the Ocean" being made around the world-films that embody the DIY ethos and craft engaging, meaningful stories that connect us on a deeply human level.