The Surface

The Surface is an American drama film released in 2014, set and filmed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and starring notable actors Sean Astin, Mimi Rogers, and Chris Mulkey. Directed by Gil Cates Jr., and written by Jeff Gendelman, the film centers around themes of despair, redemption, and the human connection, all unfolding against the backdrop of the vast, beautiful, yet potentially perilous expanse of Lake Michigan.

As viewers, we are immediately introduced to the trials and tribulations of the central character, Mitch, poignantly portrayed by Sean Astin. Mitch, a regular middle-aged man stuck in the grind of everyday life, is still reeling from a recent personal tragedy that has left him existentially and spiritually numb. This heartbreak, coupled with a stagnating career, unhappiness with his middle-class existence, and an unending sense of disappointment, thrusts Mitch into a dark cloud of despair, bordering on hopelessness.

One day, he finds in his dead father's attic an old film camera, which holds a reel of undeveloped film. Exploring why his father, an ardent boating enthusiast, never developed the film, he sets off on a boat trip on Lake Michigan, intending to replicate the unprocessed film's sequences. However, his journey takes a dramatic turn when Mitch, in the middle of the vast, seemingly endless lake, stumbles upon a man struggling for his life after a plane crash.

That man is Kelly, skillfully played by Chris Mulkey, a rough around the edges, inherently secretive man who becomes an unexpected intrusion into Mitch's planned solo trip. Now, two strangers are marooned in the middle of the lake, with no immediate help at hand, and must rely on each other to survive.

Despite the bleak circumstance and initial friction, a connection blossoms between the two. They share stories of their lives - their regrets, their longing, their disillusionments. Through these revealing dialogues, Mitch learns of Kelly's checkered past and Kelly gains an understanding of Mitch's deep-seated despair. All the while, they share the common daunting task of staying alive on the vast surface of the lake, adding a layer of tension and urgency to their budding bond.

Mimi Rogers brilliantly portrays Kim, Mitch's concerned and dedicated spouse left behind on dry land, who unravels her own feelings of fear, loss, and dread waiting for her husband's return. Her role in the unfolding narrative serves as a poignant counterpoint to the harrowing survival story happening on the lake.

What sets The Surface apart from conventional survival dramas is the emphasis on the dynamic relationship formed under life-and-death circumstances. As a character-driven drama, the film digs deep into emotional realism, exploring the depths of human hope, despair, and the desire for connection amidst the harshest odds.

The unique setting of the film on Lake Michigan turns the natural beauty of the lake into a frightening entity, which mirrors the characters' inner turmoil and propels the narrative forward. The sprawling waters become a character in itself, a silent observer of human nature and resilience under the most challenging circumstances.

Filmmaker Gil Cates Jr. captures Lake Michigan's waters with mesmerizing exactness, enabling audiences to feel the urgency of the plot realistically. The performances are layered and engaging, especially Astin and Mulkey, who carry the film on their shoulders with a masterclass of deeply layered interpretations of their beautifully flawed characters.

The film's tone is profoundly reflective, and it delves into existential themes about human connection, survival, and redemption in the bleakest of conditions. The dialogue is resonant, filled with existential probing and introspection, which endears the audience to the plights of Mitch and Kelly and their desperate clinging on to survival, and more essentially, their humanity.

The Surface, with its haunting setting, intense performances, and exploration of the human spirit, is more than a survival drama. It is a deeply moving and absorbing examination of two strangers forming a redeeming bond amidst the meditative silence of a daunting Lake Michigan. The film leaves the audience pondering the profound depths and vastness, not just of the imposing lake, but of their human existence.