BFI

Offering the viewer a thrillingly realistic sense of being onboard a ship on the high seas, the single-shot Ship at Sea was filmed with the camera on the bow of a large ship in stormy weather. The violent seas cause the ship to sway back and forth, and the attached camera moves along with it, dipping naturally down towards the waves and up again towards the horizon. This imaginative device captures a real sense of motion and creates an authentically visceral experience for the viewer. The view from the camera has been thoughtfully composed; while offering a view of part of the ship, the film also vividly captures the volatile sea and the stormy sky.

There is a poignant aspect to the film, too. The empty horizon ahead of the ship suggests a crew desperately trying to escape the storm while still being many miles away from land.

Christian Hayes

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