Beyond the Sea

Abigail Louise’s debut short Beyond the Sea is the touching story of a man trying to overcome fear, set on the scenic Cornish coast. It’s a thoughtful short film with touching moments and stunning scenery that fixates the drama on the tragedy and hope that comes with the lost potential of a life sidelined by obstacles.

Marcus (Nathan Golo) is a young man whose life is upended by trauma. Having developed aquaphobia in the aftermath of a life-altering event, he feels distant and out of place in his life on the coast, and uncomfortable in surroundings that used to provide solace. Working with his therapist Dr Newman (Tim Mcgill) and his childhood friend Leah (Abigail Louise), he tries to come to terms with his past and overcome the fear of the water that surrounds him.

For a debut, Beyond the Sea shows impressive composure, patience and emotional complexity from its director Abigail Louise. The film is at its best in understated moments: Marcus contemplating his paralysed life on the beach, quiet reflections between Marcus and Dr Newman, and the powerful, building conclusion that pays off the toiling and touching strife shared between the characters. The director shows the wisdom of a filmmaker far beyond her experience level in knowing exactly when to stick and twist with her characters, when to push emotional boundaries or allow silence to linger in the air and accentuate the drama of the story. It is moments like this that make individual stories, low stakes in their inherent nature, feel like an emotional rollercoaster.

There are rough edges to the film that sneak through. Nathan Golo is brilliant when portraying Marcus in moments of quiet reflection or conveying his battle to Dr Newman or his friends. He is less effective when acting out scenes of stress and fear for Marcus. The shaking hands come across less as uncontrollable than melodramatic and inauthentic, damaging the believability of an otherwise strong performance. Some of the dialogue also feels over scripted and stagey, relying on tropes and formulaic phrases in some of the scenes with Dr Newman. These are forgivable cosmetic imperfections that aren’t significant enough to detract from the drive or cornerstones of the film’s power that lies in the emotional journey of Marcus.

A word is warranted for the staging of the film which benefits from impressive production given the size of the project, as well as the natural beauty of the Cornish coast. It is refreshing for the filmmakers to embrace colourful locations given the heft of the content, which is not just restricted to scenes set on the beach. Dr Newman’s office (as well as his sock choice!) create a vibrancy, which also extends to a pivotal scene at a swimming pool that similarly reaches out to the viewer. It creates a powerful dynamic whereby Marcus’ depression about his phobia contrasts with colour and liveliness around him – demonstrating how something that excites some people can become a challenge for others that can’t easily be countered.

Beyond the Sea excels in no small part due to the skill and evident passion of its director. It is a layered and bold film that exceeds the sum of its parts and makes the story of its protagonist one that people of all creeds can relate to.