On the windswept Suffolk mudflats creaks a bird-hide, inside which hovers Roy Tunt (Alex MacQueen), a prematurely aged bird watcher. He has almost seen every bird on his list when a mysterious stranger on the run enters his shack...
I must be honest right off the bat, I probably did not give this film the full attention it deserved, simply because of the thick British accents and my being a little bit sleepy. Let me turn my unprofessional viewing into a warning for others -- if you cannot handle accents or slower-paced films, do not watch this. This is not a "party" film or a "drinking" film. It is a real piece of art.
That being said, this film is 80% writing, 20% acting. Directing, of course, plays a role, but this comes down to the story, the conversation, and the way the two men take part in it. We are given piece by piece, not really knowing anyone's full story. In film, do we ever know anyone's full story? No. But here, it is even less apparent. Make no assumptions, this film is ready to curve at any moment and give you whiplash as it goes.
Now that I said that directing was not important, let me back up a bit on that. The cinematography was beautiful, with just enough darkness to give the cramped, isolated feeling necessary for this tale. It also looked highly professional, by which I mean it looked better than the budget would seemingly allow. I must give complete credit to the crew for giving the film this look -- I absolutely hate the trend in independent film where it has a sterile, home video appearance.
I need to give this film another shot, especially knowing what I know now (like I say, the film curves a few times). I should also look more into bird watching... just yesterday I found out about the brown-headed cowbird. And this guy has a whole list of birds he is tracking down...
I must be honest right off the bat, I probably did not give this film the full attention it deserved, simply because of the thick British accents and my being a little bit sleepy. Let me turn my unprofessional viewing into a warning for others -- if you cannot handle accents or slower-paced films, do not watch this. This is not a "party" film or a "drinking" film. It is a real piece of art.
That being said, this film is 80% writing, 20% acting. Directing, of course, plays a role, but this comes down to the story, the conversation, and the way the two men take part in it. We are given piece by piece, not really knowing anyone's full story. In film, do we ever know anyone's full story? No. But here, it is even less apparent. Make no assumptions, this film is ready to curve at any moment and give you whiplash as it goes.
Now that I said that directing was not important, let me back up a bit on that. The cinematography was beautiful, with just enough darkness to give the cramped, isolated feeling necessary for this tale. It also looked highly professional, by which I mean it looked better than the budget would seemingly allow. I must give complete credit to the crew for giving the film this look -- I absolutely hate the trend in independent film where it has a sterile, home video appearance.
I need to give this film another shot, especially knowing what I know now (like I say, the film curves a few times). I should also look more into bird watching... just yesterday I found out about the brown-headed cowbird. And this guy has a whole list of birds he is tracking down...