Bait

Bait is a critically acclaimed 2019 cinematic marvel, directed by Mark Jenkin, starring Edward Rowe, Giles King, and Chloe Endean. Premiering at the Berlin International Film Festival, Bait is a polemical and expressionistic depiction of socio-economic changes in a traditional Cornish fishing village, seamlessly blending elements of drama with a socio-political commentary in its narrative.

The film pivots around the central character Martin Ward, masterfully played by Edward Rowe. Martin is a fisherman, a vocation he has inherited from a long ancestral line of seafarers, navigating the waters in harmony with time-honored techniques, rituals, and community standards. This fishing activity weaves into the fabric of this modest and yet immensely resilient community, grounding them in tradition and identity. However, this ancient lifestyle is increasingly under threat from the waves of gentrification as the quaint fishing village becomes an epicenter of tourism. These complications of coastal community life animate the film, steering an engaging narrative.

The tension unfolds as Martin's once tranquil seaside home becomes a hotspot for affluent holidaymakers, alien to and untouched by the community ethos. They have turned Martin's family home into a posh holiday getaway, forcing him to shift onto a boat. His brother, impressively portrayed by Giles King, has given up the traditional fishing life to use their boat for tourist trips, creating a rift between the siblings. Martin, staunch in his refusal to give up his forefather's legacy, battles hardship to stick to what he believes in—an artifact of resilience and tenacity of the human spirit.

Chloe Endean splendidly plays Martin's niece, living in this world of colliding worlds, walking a fine line between reserving her roots and the lure of modernity and progress. Her performance embarks on a journey of nuanced portrayals, bringing in the elements of young dreams amidst tradition and evolving societal norms.

Bait is a stark, black-and-white movie shot on a 16mm camera, lending a timeless and vintage aesthetic to the drama. This choice of format grants an extraordinary visual language to the film, enhancing the narrative and making it a powerful and engaging viewing experience. Mark Jenkins’ use of 16mm film, hand-processed, scratches, spots, throw this modern tale into a world that seems both familiar and timeless, highlighting all that has been lost amidst the fast-paced societal evolution.

Additionally, the use of post-synchronized dialogue allows for an exciting dissonance between words spoken and the actions performed, mirroring the dissonance that is at play within the characters' lives—a beautiful, painful contrast inextricably linked to the old world and the new.

Bait employs non-professional local actors contributing to a genuinely authentic depiction of the community under focus. However, it goes far beyond mere authenticity, presenting a heightened and almost theatrical reality. Despite their non-professional backgrounds, the cast delivers compelling performances, communicating their characters' struggles, desires, and dilemmas effectively.

Bait excellently intertwines a deeply personal story of a man and his village with universal themes of gentrification, socio-economic divide, struggles of identities, the conflict between tradition and modernity, community displacement, and cultural erosion. With its engaging narrative, soulful performances, and bold filmmaking style, it seeks to awaken a viewer's understanding of a life unfathomably distant yet achingly near.

Far from an ordinary drama, Bait is a cinematic experience flooded with raw passion, power, and symbolism. It's a poignant exploration of the tremors of modernity crippling the cultural identities of age-old communities, offering a profound commentary on the cost of "progress." Against today's backdrop of social transformations and human displacement, Bait vitally brings forth unheard narratives and suppressed voices, narrating a tale as heart-rending as it is socially vital. It is a film not to be missed by those who appreciate cinema as a medium of truth, expression, and cultural preservation.