While fleeing his homeland, Theo washes up in a small Greek fishing village in the Aegean Sea. In order to survive and start his new life, he seeks to make a living from the island's primary source of income - fishing. After convincing the grumpy widower Hector to let him join his one-man crew, they discover they may have a lot in common. It's not all smooth sailing, as Theo must contend with a thug, determined to wreak havoc on his new life and sever his growing bond with Hector.
I spoke with the talented director and Brisbane local Jacob Richardson to find out why he wanted to tell this story on a remote Greek island. Jacob said he wanted to make a film that tackled his own experiences with his grandfather.
"He was dealing with the grief of losing my grandmother and I wanted to do so in a way that took our very small but universal story and told it on this big, expansive, mythic island - grounding it in a broader examination of the refugee crisis," Jacob said.
Jacob achieved what he set out to accomplish by creating a universal story that would work in any language, brought to life by a superb cast. Although they may be relatively unknown to some, the pairing of Costas Mandylor's Hector and newcomer Nicky Dune's Theo was a great move. The contrast of the two actors, one stoic and the other the epitome of youth, keeps you watching to see how they'll influence each other.
Despite the troubling themes of loss and survival, this isn't a 'woe is me' story. The Aegean shows us how we can deal with our losses and learn to create a new life for ourselves without forgetting those that we've left behind.
The breathtaking scenery and cinematography deserve to be experienced on the big screen, so I urge you to grab a seat in a boutique cinema and settle down for an emotional journey about the human condition. Lovers of heartfelt stories set against stunning backdrops, treat yourself to this charming tale.
The Aegean, in Aussie cinemas May 16.
@WatchItWombat.
