Bait

Never mind BAFTA, I am very sorry to say this but, this movie should have won "The worst movie of the year award". Therefore, it does not deserve 7 stars in my opinion. Bland as a can of peas & carrots and tasteless as a stinky kidney pie. Sorry guys...

Bait Made in a style of a documentary from the days of Pathe News and the 1940's. This black and white movie feel gave a greater intensity to the really very slim story. The various themes were The juxtaposition of blue collar and white collar money. An industry dying due to the EU permitting over fishing by industrial trawlers in British waters that has led to the destruction of this industry. The abject poverty and hand to mouth existence requiring the influx of monied tourists to support any industry. The role of community and us and them. The difference between a real home and temporary home. The elevation almost reverence of a skilled and "honest" trade. Overall this was a very good movie but is claustrophobic feel, limited variety of image, and an unbalanced viewpoint that took the side of the fishermen always was somewhat of a politically driven movie. The format of an entertaining movie is not best placed to preach at anyone.

I don't review many films on IMDB but was moved enough by BAIT to write something. The visuals are always interesting, shot in black and white it reminded me of some of the British WW2 propaganda films, especially with some of the performances that are by their nature very realistic and not showy. The performance of Edward Rowe is mesmerising as a tortured man, his livelihood threatened, his culture undermined, his sheer frustration with what life has dealt him. I really didn't know what to expect from his character with each twist and turn. I also really appreciated the non-romantic view of Cornwall, it wasn't idolised and showed the impact of the decline of traditional industry with the growth in tourism. I hope a lot of viewers won't be put off by it being in black and white as it deserves to be seen widely

I enjoyed this film. It is original and creative. It wears it's influences well, paying good homage to older films which I enjoyed earlier in life. The narrative, sound and image; ultimately the story, emerge from the masterful use of limited technology that is wonderfully mastered. I didn't mind that I found the story, and the idea of life in Cornwall, somewhat rooted in a romantic view of fishing as a heroic labour which is here seen as almost the peak profession. As if only it is an authentic job, and others are somewhat less for not being fishing people. I don't even mind the anti big city narrative, or the view that locals can park anywhere because they are locals. The story rattles along. The characters are flawed. It's great to see a different idea for what a film might be.

Technically a fascinating piece of film making using B&W and unusual choice of shots to provide an elliptical view of the narrative with space for the viewer to consider. As with reality there is no absolute truth here. As a story about the interaction between the characters it has considerable subtlety and shows all the participants as essentially flawed and very human. As a story about the major issue of the way the tourism "industry" trashes our communities, distorts our home lives, and creates massive suppressed resentment against those who come across the Tamar for two weeks or two months and make no contribution it is a powerful contribution. By and large the behaviour of all of the visitors is at best deeply patronising and arrogant - just like real life. The sooner we get rid of these parasites the better. And I imagine that the same feelings exist everywhere that tourists go, it is not a problem peculiar to Cornwall, although it is probably at its worst in the UK here.

I think anyone who gave this film a poor rating has missed the point. You cannot review this piece as a 'normal' film which follows a standard narrative. It is a visual representation of sitting on a dockside watching the world go by, it is utterly absorbing, thoughtful and leaves you wanting more. It is the antithesis of the multiplex safe Hollywood cgi digital junkfest we are used to seeing. The technique of shooting on black and white film with a clockwork camera and self processing the material obviously drives how the films pace and narrative develops because the filmmakers have to make compromises, but this somehow makes it all the more interesting. Get it watched!