Hide Away

Hide Away is a 2011 independent drama starring Josh Lucas, Ayelet Zurer, and James Cromwell. Directed by Chris Eyre and written by Peter Vanderwall, the film is also known by the title "A Year in Mooring". Set against the backdrop of the compelling world of sailing, Hide Away offers an in-depth character study that explores the intricacies of human emotions and the path to reflection and recovery.

The film follows the captivating journey of an anonymous man known only as the Young Mariner, portrayed by Josh Lucas. He buys a dilapidated sailboat with seemingly little tangible reason, sparking a chain of events that dramatically reshape his life. The boat is unfit for sailing, much like the Young Mariner himself: he appears distraught, lost, damaged, with everything about his past life concealed from the viewers. His identity and the reasons behind his apparent self-seclusion gradually unfold throughout the film, which intricately weaves a tale of hope, healing, and redemption through metaphor and symbolism.

Josh Lucas delivers a powerful performance that resonates throughout each scene, setting the tone for the movie. His eyes reflect the journey of a shattered soul in search of redemption and hope. Lucas’s portrayal of sorrow, isolation, revitalization and eventually free-spiritedness, all take place primarily within the confines of his bought-all-by-himself sailboat, and it's a captivating central performance.

The film also features performances from Ayelet Zurer and James Cromwell, who each add a significant depth to the storytelling and the Young Mariner's journey. Zurer plays a waitress at a local diner, whom the Young Mariner, in his own reclusive way, gets fond of. Cromwell, on the other hand, appears as the Ancient Mariner, an old sailor whose wisdom guides the Young Mariner through his struggles. These characters help him face his tumultuous past and offer a glimmer of hope for the future, both symbolically and practically.

With Hide Away, Eyre's vision redefines the boundaries of traditional storytelling, opting for a more spiritual narrative. He manages to capture the quiet beauty of solitude and nature through his thoughtful direction and outstanding cinematography, filled with stunning shots of the water and landscapes. The film is paced like the lapping of tide, lulling you with its rhythmic serenity, punctuated only by the harsh weather and the sounds of struggling efforts to restore the boat to its former glory.

The storytelling is non-linear, allowing viewers to piece together the Young Mariner's past themselves like a puzzle. The boat can be seen as a metaphor for the protagonist himself; a fixer-upper that's worn and weathered but still floating and, like the Young Mariner, has potential, if only someone was willing to put in the work to restore it. Thematically, the movie tends to hold on to the concept of isolation leading to self-discovery and ultimately, recovery.

However, Hide Away isn't just about the rehabilitation of the man, or the boat, it's about a grieving process that includes denial, isolation, anger, bargaining, depression, and ultimately acceptance. The film explores how sometimes, in our darkest hours, the sparkle of humanity, the flashes of joy, and the bond of togetherness is an adequate lighthouse to guide us ashore from the stormy seas of harrowing past experiences.

Furthermore, the film decorates itself with a hauntingly enchanting musical score; a soft melody that gently guides the viewers through the emotional undercurrents flowing beneath the surface of every scene.

Hide Away is a powerful film that dives beneath the surface of human emotion and explores the themes of grief, renewal, and redemption in a introspective manner. It's a poignant metaphorical voyage sailing on the ocean of feelings. Overall, the film is a symbolic and evocative piece of cinema that beautifully encapsulates the universality of human sorrows and our innate capacity for resilience and renewal.