The Crest

The Crest is an absorbing 2017 documentary directed by Mark Covino. The film features Mike Carney, Jerry Hayes, and Andrew Jacob and offers a remarkable blend of culture, serenity, spirituality, dreams, reality, and surfing in one epic family adventure narrative. The Crest is a family saga that spans two continents and the Atlantic Ocean, showcasing the challenge of retaining ancestral traditions while adapting to contemporary life.

The narrative follows Andrew Jacob, an artist from Boston, and Dennis "Denny" Kane, a surfer and carpenter based in Brooklyn. They are both direct descendants of the King, a king from the Blasket Islands, Ireland. Their shared ancestry brings together two distant relatives who, despite their different paths and lifestyles in modern America, carry forward their shared heritage of these long-abandoned islands off Ireland's coast.

Through Jacob and Kane, the film carries a sense of nostalgia tracing back to their roots in the rugged Islands of Blasket - islands that once thrived on community, traditional Gaelic language, and a unique way of life but were evacuated in the 1950s due to isolation and harsh weather. The islands have since remained shut, acting as a powerful symbol of heritage and a testament to a bygone era.

The authenticity of the movie is evident as it beautifully weaves together the ancestral stories, folklore, and history of the Blasket Islands with the modern-day adventures of Jacob and Kane. Their interest in their shared heritage prompts them to embark on a journey to explore the crest of their ancestry, giving a profound depth and purpose to their story.

Jacob is an intriguing aspect of the narrative - essentially a city-dweller who is a portrait artist. Interestingly, he has never been daring enough to venture into the Atlantic. In contrast, Kane, an ardent surfer, is fearless and feels at home in the mighty waves crashing into the Brooklyn coast. Despite coming from different backgrounds, the two are united through their ancient Irish lineage and the spirit of adventure [to honour the islands from where their ancestors once hailed.

What makes the Crest is not just any documentary, but a heartwarming story that takes the audience along a voyage of discovery and kinship, is the inclusion of surfing. It presents a breathtaking sight of the two distant cousins surfing around the Blasket Islands. The film elaborately showcases the waves crashing against the formidable cliffs and the breathtaking landscapes stretching out in the background. Highlighting the peaceful coexistence of man and nature, these scenes do not merely provide stunning visual imagery but reflect the heritage of the Blasket Islands, untamed by modern civilization and progress.

Apart from surfing and journey, the film explores the rich culture and language of the Blasket Islands before they were abandoned. Throughout the narrative, the Gaelic language acted as a vehicle, carrying the audience through their ancestral past, relatively untouched by modern influence. Snippets of native songs, dances, and traditions serve to provide an immersive experience into the world of their ancestors.

While surfing forms the majestic visual spectacle, at its core, the Crest is a story about family bonds and heritage. It's about the compelling need to trace their past and a thoughtful reflection on the struggles and resilience of their ancestors. The charming blend of aqua-adventure with the deep-rooted desire to reconnect with their past evokes a great sense of human spirit and harmony with nature.

In terms of cinematography and direction, Covino does an incredible job of capturing the drama of contemporary life and ancient traditions. It provides an immersive viewing experience taking audiences on an emotional roller-coaster, oscillating between adventurous fun, a sense of melancholy, and a deep reflective take on the importance of ancestry and heritage.

The Crest is a journey that effortlessly transcends borders, brings together distant relatives, and unites them through their shared past. It's filled with moments of bravery, personal conflict, triumph, and familial love. As the audience, one cannot but feel absorbed in this powerful and touching narrative about rediscovering ancestral roots and honoring their legacy. A must-watch for viewers who love water, surfing, history, and most importantly, emotionally engaging stories about family bonds.