An artistic character study of a young man, Aaron, (George Mackay) who is the sole survivor of a fishing boat accident that claimed his brother's life. His Scottish village mourns for the dead while disrespecting the living, believing that those who survive such accidents are somehow less noble than those who died. Because of this, Aaron is treated like an outcast and given little sympathy. Alone and unraveling, Aaron determines to go back to sea and find his brother, no matter the cost.
But this movie is not at all what it seems, which makes it a divisive movie. Some people will love it, some will hate it. I thought I knew where this movie was going and when it took a drastically different route I was shocked but I could not look away.
I also happen to love George Mackay and he's the real reason I watched this movie. I honestly wasn't expecting much from the film though. It was pretty slow at times and I expected it to stay slow, but there is a dramatic shift at a certain point in the movie, and well, you just have to watch it to see what I mean. If you've followed any of George Mackay's work, this is a true George Mackay film and his performance is wonderful as always. Understated, subtle, then jarring and emotionally powerful. He won a Scottish BAFTA for this and now I know why.
If you're looking for a quiet indie film about personal discovery and healing, this might not be for you. This film is a realistic drama but it also has an element of folklore and horror. It was a bit of a mind trip too. There were times where I wasn't sure if what I was seeing was real or not. And just when you think it won't get stranger, it does. George Mackay really knows how to pick his roles. His filmography is so consistently good it's crazy. I don't know if I've ever seen an actor this young, this good, and in this many powerful films.
I loved this movie and it's earned its place among George Mackay's most memorable performances.
