Night Labor

"Night Labor" is a movie released in 2013, directed by David Redmon and Ashley Sabin, featuring Sherman Frank Merchant as its key character in a poignant narrative stitched together in a form of poetic realism.

Sherman Frank Merchant is a layman living his ordinary life that serves as the central force of the movie. Born in Maine around 1950, after several years of working at a cannery, an injury leaves him unable to continue his previous work. One day, he finds an ad in the paper for a night watchman at a lobster storehouse located in a remote part of the town. Taking up this job, Sherman embarks on the journey that we perceive through his eyes in the movie.

Night Labor starts by giving us a look into the peaceful solitude of Sherman's life as he moves into a small house on the property of a remote storehouse. There is tranquility in the isolation, which Merchant seems to resonate with, and the peaceful nights bring a sense of his existence at the moment. As he quietly settles into his new life, we follow along, observing his routine as he walks the cold, quiet aisles of lobsters in the still of the night and ensures their secure storage.

Throughout the film, Sherman's character is unveiled primarily by his actions rather than by dialogues, which paints a distinct picture of his solitary but poignant existence. Each night, alone, he looks after thousands of lobsters kept in vast water tanks. The silence is intermittently punctuated by the hum of the storehouse cooling systems and the solo radio broadcasts.

The cinematography enhances the subtle nuances of Sherman's life. By visually capturing the sleeping lobsters nestling in the chilly, cavernous storehouse, the movie artfully plays with the contrasts of life and stillness. The nocturnal labor of Sherman, combined with his journies through the deserted lands and his interactions with the night creatures, speak deeper about the mundane yet profound aspects of human existence.

Throughout Night Labor, we see how Sherman's life takes on the rhythm of his quiet vigil. His surroundings, too, adapt to the rhythm he goes by. The clicking and humming of the warehouse cooler generating a droning soundtrack to his nights, his faithful dog's companionship, and the radio broadcasts for company illuminate his life remarkably within its vast solitude. The movie silently captures how solitary labor becomes a form of meditation, a solace, a way of finding peace and quiet in the frenzy and craziness of the world.

Night Labor showcases Merchant as a farmer of the night, tending to his lobsters and attending to the quiet. His undulating journey and the persistent circle of life also hint toward a deeper narrative about the human condition, where stubborn survival instinct in life's cold cruelties can lead to tranquil, serene existence.

This introspective journey of a character is wrapped up in excellent cinematography, setting moods through a balance of lighting and darkness, silence and subtle sound, cold isolation and warm companionship.

"Night Labor" is not a movie that tells its story through elucidated plot details or dramatic dialogues rather, it is through the quiet solitude and the depths of simple acts and routines one finds the essence of this movie. It is an exploration of the intricate dance between solitude and companionship, silence and sound, labor and leisure, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in watching Sherman's night labor, offering a unique insight into the rattling calm within the solitary life of a night laborer.

In conclusion, "Night Labor" is a testament to the tranquil yet powerful human spirit reflected in the most mundane routines, that are managed gracefully under the silent vigil of the night. Its unique perspective and poetic realism offer a cinematic experience like no other.