Bait (2019)
Dir. Mark Jenkin / Dur. 89 mins
In A Nutshell:- A local Cornish fisherman struggles with his livelihood and the impact of gentrification on the village he lives in.
The Good:- It’s a visually arresting and distinctive film. Shot on a 16mm clockwork camera and treated with dirt and coffee to give it a deliberately scratchy and washed out look, it feels like a forgotten film from the thirties. Add to this the fact that all sound was dubbed on later in post-production and it gives a low-fi, slightly heightened feeling. The cast are generally pretty good (although the post-production dubbing makes their performances feel a little odd - like a dubbed foregin film that happens to be in English) but the standout is Edward Rowe as Martin who gives a performance that propels the film along. ** Certain scenes feature some intercutting and flash forward shots that require a bit of attention, in particular an intercut argument scene between several different characters at once (which turns out to be a smart way to disguise what would otherwise be a lot of exposition). While it does deal with serious themes and situations, there is a strong vein of humour laced throughout as well.
The Bad:- It’s so distinctive a style that it may take a couple of minutes to ease into. I found that, during the first few scenes, I was slightly put off by the dubbing until I relaxed into it. I also felt that this technique made a couple of the performances seem a little wooden initially but it’s a minor complaint.
The Verdict:- If you’re looking for a distinctive, fresh and interesting piece of independent British filmmaking with something to say then this is definitely the film for you. It may take a little bit of getting into but it’s well worth the effort.
* I realise this isn’t massively useful information if you live outside of London but I don’t live outside of London so it’s really rather handy for me.
** I strongly resisted the urge to say that it anchors the film. Please be appreciative.
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