Director: Lucien Castaing-Taylor, Verena Paravel.
Starring: Brian Jannelle, Arthur Smith, Clyde Lee, Paul Benner.
Running Time: 87 minutes.
Certificate: 12A.
Synopsis: A one of a kind and exclusive look at the commercial fishing industry.
The critically acclaimed LEVIATHAN hits all the right spots to qualify as experimental, interesting and even educational and is incredibly deserving of its title as the talked about documentary of the year. The camera is there to catch everything around it and what is caught on tape is not a disappointment.
It is easy to get lost and drift away during the movie due to its lack of storyline and dialogue, but the attention of the audience is grabbed throughout with captivating and vivid images. One example has the camera swooshing close into a pile of bloody dead fish and back; a moment which is impossible to ignore, not only for its explicitness but also for the gut-wrenching emotions instilled in the audience after going through the movements and watching the images.
There are more sickening and unpleasant moments, but they remain equally fascinating. And, whatever linear storytelling and dialogue feels missed out is compensated by the eerie tone throughout. The minimal editing tells a dizzying story – although fascinating and interesting in its own right, it’s not a pleasant watch. The techniques of storytelling are incredibly admirable, but the film does not appeal to a commercial audience when it’s a struggle to see past the pretentiousness and appreciate ninety minutes of tired fisherman, dead fish and the sounds of the ocean.
LEVIATHAN is a true piece of cinema and borders on the epitome of art. Sadly, if one isn’t an experimental art, fish or documentary aficionado, the film will be difficult to watch and stomach. LEVIATHAN is more than a documentary, it is an experience. The question is whether or not the experience will be appreciated.
LEVIATHAN was released in UK cinemas on Friday 29th November.
