Bait
Synopsis
Martin Ward, is a cove-fishermen without a boat, infuriated with his brother for using the family vessel for day-tripping, and with a brooding resentment for tourists flocking to the village while locals are relegated to an estate on the hill. Nearing the end of the summer season, an argument over a parking space with the incomers who bought his old family home comes to represent all that is wrong with the world for Martin. Tensions rise and when a misguided prank and retaliation escalates to tragedy the brothers are forced to unite and face the future together.
Shifting light, captured on B&W 16mm film and processed by hand, offers a grainy black and white polemic; the state of the nation seen through a family lens. Rugged cliffs, stark seascapes, working hands, silent faces, the screech of a gull, the smoke from a barbeque, clashing classes, tensions building, a casual theft, a threat issued, a punch thrown, retribution, high tide, low water, laughter at dusk, regret in the morning, beauty, anger, compassion, hope.
Official Selection Berlinale 2019 - Forum - World premiere
Details
- Year
- 2019
- Type of film
- Features
- Running time
- 89 mins
- Format
- 16mm Black and White
- Director
-
Mark Jenkin
- Producer
- Kate Byers, Linn Waite
- Executive Producer
- Kate Byers, Linn Waite
- Editor
- Mark Jenkin
- Screenwriter
- Mark Jenkin
- Director of Photography
- Mark Jenkin
- Production Designer
- Mae Voogd
- Sound
- Dan Thompson
- Music
- Thea Gilmore, The Malarkey, Gwenno
- Principal cast
- Edward Rowe, Simon Shepherd, Mary Woodvine, Giles King, Chloe Endean, Georgia Ellery, Isaac Woodvine, Jowan Jacobs
Genre
Categories
Production Status
Production Company
Early Day Films Limited
Stanley HouseTotterdown
Bristol
BS4 3BA
Sales Company
The Festival Agency
44 Rue de Cléry75002 Paris
France
Page updates
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