Yes, Your Tide Is Cold and Dark, Sir

Director/screenwriter Chris Malinowski tells a poignant, mysterious tale in his movie, "Yes, Your Tide is Cold and Dark, Sir". Set in the sleepy beach town of Lewes, Delaware, the film is visually and dramatically compelling. The story revolves around the disappearance of "Clay" Claitonowsky and three of his teenaged students. Clay's son, Cliff (played by Malinowski) returns to the town, revisiting his troubled relationship with his father. The actors do an excellent job portraying believable characters, many giving very touching performances. Themes of teenage angst, jealousy and unrequited love are beautifully woven into this rich and thoughtful movie.

After watching the premiere of "Yes, your tide is cold and dark, Sir", the audience is left with an after moment of intense introspection. One's questions are never fully answered in this film, but there is a rich interweaving of the storyline reminiscent of cult classics, like Donnie Darko, where the viewer is left with an series of unsettling memories instead. Throughout this movie, there are simple moments of cinematic beauty depicting the Delaware towns of Lewes and Rehoboth that really lend this film a personality separate from other works, the audience leaves with a true sense of place. It's difficult to depict a place so that one feels connected and as though they could jump in and interact with the characters; the director engages the audience to become vested in the drama of the small-town and the results of the tragedy that envelopes it.

Throughout the movie, the elaborate depictions of human connections and their imminent disconnect is a powerful way to depict the trauma of a unnamed event. It pulls an entire community together and at the center, the main character, "Cliff" is struggling with his own emotions, intrinsically tied to the town he grew up in and the relationships within that mental space. The overlaying feelings of isolation and dramatic sensations of place are interwoven with great transitions. The pace is a little slower at times, but this is a introspective film and picks up cadence with a memorable soundtrack and great movement from scene to scene. Technically speaking, the quality editing and color work are of note, and the treatment of time creates an interesting dimension to this film.

Chris Malinowski delivers solidly with one of those quintessential indie films that comes along rarely, full of lovely symbolism and meaning, riding below the tide of an overlying plot. On the surface, Cliff visits his hometown of Lewes, Delaware, to visit his mother's grave several months after his father disappeared with three young guitar students and another adult. Beautifully capturing this lovely seaside town, the film explores, through Cliff, his real intentions, his inner search. The dark feel of the film is rich with unexpected and delightful moments of wonderful humor in a story of human relevance and search for happiness.

The entire cast also delivers, with especially strong performances by Gregory Tigani, Jean Brooks, and Aimee Cassada.

I have seen this film three times now, and each viewing has revealed additional meaning and richer symbolism. The unexpected and delightful moments of wonderful humor in a story of human relevance and search of purpose and happiness keep the viewer highly engaged.

It is a film of relationships, inner demons, inherited baggage, and search of self that brings the viewer to a satisfying end. But, like all excellent films, the joy is in the journey.

There's a mystery at the core of Chris Malinowski's "Yes, Your Tide is Cold and Dark, Sir," but it's not the one you think.

Certainly the premise - a man returns to his beach-town home, where his father and three kids, all guitar students, have gone missing - is filled with mystery. But Cliff (Malinowski) isn't all that interested in solving the riddle – he's curiously detached from the sensational news surrounding his father. But the questions and mysteries linger, and when one of the missing kids turns up, the town wants answers – and they turn to Cliff.

The film has answers, but not to the questions you thought it was asking. Clues abound - in names, in glances, in odd conversations, even in subtitles - but Malinowski isn't looking to resolve the "plot" suggested by the premise. He's looking deeper, into more personal places. And the more the film reveals (the enigmatic title is explained), the more you realize you're not watching a traditional story arc, but something much sneakier, deeper, and more challenging.

You'd be forgiven for finding "Yes, Your Tide is Cold and Dark" unsatisfying at first. It's not until well after the ending, when all the ideas of Malinowski's haunting work start to take shape, that you understand the movie is about something much more personal and profound than the almost (but not quite) conventional mystery proposed at the outset. Malinowski purposefully begins with a fairly straight-ahead narrative, and slowly (perhaps too slowly at times) takes it into odd, sometimes surreal places. He intentionally frustrates your expectations, forging sideways rather than ahead, until you realize you've been moving ahead the whole time. And he does it all in a beautifully-filmed movie, a loving and sumptuously-photographed portrait of a Delaware beach town.

As Cliff, Malinowski is a strong center, if sometimes a bit too passive (a trap many autobiographical filmmakers fall into). The film pulses with energy when he shows anger and passion (two scenes in particular - one odd argument between Cliff and a guitar student, one confrontation with a man who insists he WILL BUY CLIFF A DRINK, are riveting). The supporting characters, many of whom are harboring their own secrets, are excellently portrayed – standout actors include Jean Brooks, Aimee Cassada, and Gregory Tigani, but they're all very good. A thread about mysterious men in black is a bit distracting, although their leader (Ritchie Rubini) is chillingly effective – their presence is another sign that the movie refuses to bow to convention, but they feel a little forced. I suspect they partially represent a wink from Malinowski – you want a thriller, I'll give you a thriller - but they feel like misdirection. But maybe I just haven't quite figured out their place in the story yet.

But I will, because I'll be thinking about Malinowski's lyrical movie for a long time. I hope I haven't made this very entertaining film sound ponderous or alienating - even the most surreal scenes are infused with accessible emotions and strong, often poetic language. It's a fascinating piece of work that keeps you guessing right up until the final scene, where you discover Malinowski has been hiding secrets in plain sight the entire time.

"Yes, Your Tide Is Cold and Dark, Sir" is a beautifully shot, admirably performed, and intentionally interpretive film. The story of Cliff Claitonowsky unfolds after a return to his hometown amidst a search for his father, a beloved, blue collar guitar instructor and his teenage students. The backdrop of blustery Lewes, Delaware, a sleepy seaside town, is a fitting backdrop when juxtaposed with an enigmatic relationship between father and son.

The plot takes a bit of time to develop, but upon second watch, cleverly-woven eccentricities can be found in many scenes that, when observed, really tie some pieces together. It's the type of film one must be intently focused on, as it takes some doing to get a handle on the direction of the plot.

Visually, the film comes across very moody and cold in spots and charming and authentic at other times. The shots of Rehoboth and Lewes, Delaware were beautifully composed.

At its core, "Yes, Your Tide..." is a film about yearning for answers, resolving the past, and embracing life. To that end, the film can be exceptionally personal to those who choose to find meaning in its cryptic message.