Glory at Sea: The film plainly summons myth, yet it is not itself mythic. The film is narrated by a kid, loaning it a feeling of innocence. However, not at all like movies or books in which a kid's portrayal puts an amusingly sweet shine upon occasions which we know truly to be terrible, the anonymous storyteller of Glory at Sea is not precisely temperamental: without a doubt, the voice of an almost suffocated child appears the ideal course for a story that comes this near catastrophe, yet is additionally this Romantically dedicated to the inevitable accomplishment of the great. That we are told the story by a kid makes us expect an incongruity that never at last comes – a motivation that hues a significant part of the film. The score, such as, is excessively great and emotive; yet the film never urges us to take it as satire, or even pastiche, but instead as a genuine establishment of a tradition we may generally dread to take truly. The film oozes a garbled and valiant confidence directly down to the extremely level of its generation. Or maybe like the vessel that its characters develop, this is a low-budget short that goes about as though it trusted itself to be epic. However, as with the best metamodern craftsmanship – and as in the film's own story – this disjunction amongst want and the method for its accomplishment leads not to disappointment, yet rather to a sort of decidedly qualified achievement.
Anthony Reed: Glory at Sea by Benh Zeitlin This was an interesting film. I enjoyed the art it's concept and trying to figure out what it meant. From my understanding this film was about a tragedy resulting from a flood where some loved ones were lost earlier and the characters who were shown throughout the film on the sketchy boat were people who were in transition to the afterlife. The marching band and the music they played is a New Orleans style celebration for the home going of those who have passed away. The ship itself was made out of worldly possessions that these people tried to hold on to to, but in the end they lost all of it and had to let go before they found what meant the most to them. They reunited with the loved ones they lost under water which makes me think they all died from the same fate. The film had a dramatic low contrast hazy feel that gave me the idea that this took place in a purgatory type transitional world given the events. The story was a great concept. I don't know if I'm correct but that's what I got from watching this. It a film that make you think to try to understand what's going on.
It was hard to understand kind of film and demanded more attention to understand the concept, but it was not totally understandable though. The narration was by a child and it was something interesting to me. The underwater cinematography was good for low budget movie like this. The music choice was outstanding. I also liked the listing of the movie it really helped setting the tempo of the film and mood too.
Braedan Snow Glory at Sea by Benh Zeitlin I did not like the aspect that the film was a narrative re creating real life events, because it makes the flood seem more like a story than an actual event that impacted many people. The cross between the images of the the actual damage and the story that went along with it just did not mesh well for me personally. Although, I do like the idea of the survivors taking all the items that were washed away from them, and forming them together to make a boat, which symbolizes new hope; I found it interesting how each person had their own item that contributed to a story unique to them. The music was also overbearing in my opinion, and far too dramatic that it really took over in some spots of the film. I did not like how manic they portrayed the people as, because I have watched a few docs on the subject of hurricane Katrina and people were not throwing parties and raving; the hurricane impacted thousands of people and destroyed everything they had worked for their entire lives. I know that the intent of this film is not to mock the tragedy in any way, but for me personally it does not sit very well. I will say the ending was very powerful and bittersweet to see everyone reunite with their loved ones, and was definitely the highlight of the film and once place the music worked to its advantage.
Kelsey Peterson: Glory at Sea by Benh Zeitlin When this film first started, I was initially confused. It starts out with light happy music and then shows people drowning under water while the music was playing. I usually like to know what is going on in a film right away and I just couldn’t figure it out while watching this. You really had to pay attention and think about it to get it to make sense. All together I think the end was the best part of the film, where they get to reunite with their loved ones it gave me a satisfactory feel even though I cant say I really enjoyed the film. Most scenes were shot using an old type of filter, where nothing was really in focus. This helped with the tone of the film. I would say Zeitlin did a good job determining the tone of the film, it was somewhat of a tragedy but the music made it a little more uplifting. Overall, this was a great film but not something I would typically enjoy watching.
Katy Hale: Glory at Sea by Behn Zeitlin From the very beginning, I was hopeful. I predicted what the film was going to be about but I was completely wrong. The underwater shots were very clever but also very blurry. After realizing they were blurry it made complete sense as to why they were blurry because when you open your eyes underwater, it isn't perfectly clear. Therefore, I thought that was super cool. Each character was very odd and different. They each had a reason to be there but I could not figure out why for some of them. There were a lot of extra people I did not even pay attention to. A lot of the shots were dark and loud which was confusing but it seemed to work for the environment of the film. I wonder if in post that was color corrected or if they meant to have it that dark. As a viewer, I felt rushed and overwhelmed. Everything was very hectic and cluttered. The only time I felt a sense of release or calmness was during the underwater shots. I felt safe when the characters would go under water. The drunk scene on the boat was fun to watch until shit hit the fan. Once the boat separated, I felt a sense of release but I was still confused. I liked how it ended, but I'm still left with a lot of questions.
Gretchen Franz: Glory at Sea I didn’t read the description before I started watching, and within the first couple seconds I thought, “this reminds me so much of Beasts of the Southern Wild, wow!” As the music played and it seemed even MORE like Beasts of the Southern Wild, I decided to read the description because I felt like I was missing something. Surprise- “directly preceded the development and production of Beasts of the Southern Wild”!! Makes sense now. Onto analyzing the actual film… The shaky camera movements and breaking of the 180 degree rule make this film rather disorienting, but the goes with the theme of the film. Additionally, it comes off as a documentary, though it is a narrative. I loved all of the dynamic shots in this film, though they may not be technically good, they show what they need to show. My favorite shot is with the two boys running through the junkyard with their instruments. I think the music played a huge part in developing this story and showing that all these people had was each other, but as long as they had each other, they could have a good time. It was hard to determine the story or the plot of this film until the last minute though and even then, I’m wondering if I really grasp it.
Nick Stellon: Glory at Sea For me, this is the most powerful short film we've watched this semester. It focuses on a community coping with the devastation of a storm. How the film tells this story is unique. It shows each member of this community, with their own loss and their own distinct personality, come together to build a boat. They fill this boat with the possessions left behind from the storm, and they sail off to find their loved ones. The characters in this film are perfectly developed. For a short time with such a large ensemble, the film makes you latch onto each one of them. I thought that the preacher was a great example of this. When his only home, the church, is burned to the ground, you feel deep sorrow for him. That is until he becomes a part of the community once more when he places a cross on the boat. This is just one of many examples of how the filmmakers develop their characters perfectly. I thought that one of the best pieces of this film was the soundtrack. It sets the audience up for an epic journey, and the film delivers. From a production standpoint this film is beautiful. The underwater shots in particular are magnificent, and the handheld camera style help build on the film rather than take away from it. Everything in this film has a specific meaning. Every character has a function, every shot has a purpose, every prop has it's place. This is a whole film. It's no surprise to me that it works so well.
Alex Harris - Glory at Sea by Benh Zeitlin Have you ever had those weird dreams? The ones that include little bits of real life but then smash them together with other movies or things you read? This felt like one of those dreams. Its story was just coherent enough to make you want to try and make sense of it, but just strange enough to make every attempt more and more difficult. Now this doesn't take away from the powerful acting and very deliberate camera work. The combinations of feelings evoked by this one piece was another high point of the film. All in all, a very strange and intriguing piece.
From the beginning of the film, I was confused. Seeing all these people underwater, my original idea was that this film has been just some weird experimental situation. But as I continued to watch, I saw that it was more than meets the eye. That the story was watching how these people were coping, not just with the storm, but with themselves. That all of these people coming together and building this boat trying to sail away and find their loved ones and also find themselves, post-storm. I will say that this film does give off the "Beasts of the Southern Wild" feel to it. But that's what makes the film work and tell its story effectively. Surviving a storm is not easy and finding a way to start new with the things that were left behind is not easy either. The use of the kid narration and the shaky camera movements add effect and allows for the audience to see how this community really interacts. The music and the enhanced sound effects really made the film, pop and show post-storm survival in a different light. The underwater shots showed what it was really like to look underwater, murky and blurry, and not crisp and clear other movies make it seem to be. I liked, though because it made the film feel real. Overall, I think this film might be a favorite one to have watched this semester because the story was beautiful the film aesthetics really captured the life and its colors.
Cody Quinn: Glory at Sea by Cody Quinn This film was very confusing for me. Honestly, I didn't like it very much. The story was not particularly interesting to me and was kinda hard to understand. However, I do feel like the actors were great and the camera work was very smooth and had some great shots. Also, as a musician, I thoroughly enjoyed the music as I feel it matched the film's mood. Even though I didn't completely get attached and understand the meaning completely, it had some very nice technical aspects.
I found this week's film very confusing and for the most part, not very good. When I first saw all the people under water I really didn't know what to think, but I did like how everything kind of came out as the film developed. Although I thought the film wasn't that great, I still enjoyed the music, the acting was pretty good, and I also enjoyed the underwater shots, which gave it a very realistic feel. I also enjoyed some of the filming locations. This film definitely had some good qualities but I felt like some steps could have been made to make it less confusing.
Glory At Sea: Kat Flandermeyer This was a intriguing film. It was slightly confusing in the plot department, and still had me with a few questions at the very end. I think the ending was meant to imply the characters joined their family in some kind of watery afterlife, but it wasn't explicit. I liked a lot of the imagery in this film: the lucky items that survived the flood, the dock poles acting as gravestones, the narrator's spaghetti hat, the floating Elysium road sign. It combined mythic ideas with the southern-flavored culture of the movie. I also liked the mix of the church with the different mythos the people were following. When the boat broke apart, the preacher stayed afloat on the half with the cross. His faith kept him from sinking, but since it can be argued that the people wanted to sink, did he really win? Set design was a strength. All the major pieces gave off an erie look. The skeleton of the boat the children hid things in looked like a beached dead whale. The bed in the tree was off from the moment you saw it. The church had more candles than a mausoleum, and the underwater world was connected to the top by long rings of seaweed, like some strange umbilical cord. The filmmakers didn't try to make the water look clearer or boost the lighting in the film; I think in doing so they kept the slightly dirty look of everything. Clear water would have only seemed strange. One of my favorite shots had to be the man sitting on top of Tess' pole. He looked like an ungainly bird up there. Overall I liked this one, even if it takes some analysis to understand the plot. Really enjoyable.
Virginia Nobles: So that was very interesting and very sweet. I didn't completely understand it but I'm happy that everyone was reunited. I'll admit, I cried. The scene composition was well thought out and put together well. I'm sure those weren't very easy shots to get. The music went well with each scene. It was a creative storyline but I'm not completely sure whether all those people at the bottom of the ocean were dead and then their family members just came and drowned so they could be with them or if they were dead and waiting to be resurrected once they were found by their family or what, but it was definitely interesting to watch. I really enjoyed it. It was a little long but I think each scene added was key in the story and wouldn't have been as good if it were shorter. Overall it was good.
Kyle Heinze: Glory at Sea by Kat Flandermayer While I found this film to be interesting and unique, I also found it very confusing. I almost feel as though there is a key piece of information that I missed, that the filmmakers assumed people would understand. As the story developed, I began to understand more, but simultaneously felt more confused. The film quality itself isn't the best, which may just be a stylistic choice that I did not understand. From what I could comprehend, the message seemed to be powerful, but I feel as though it can easily go over many people's heads. The overall tone of unity through loss was compelling but didn't have the impact I think it could have, had the story-line been more clearly delivered.
Dylan Milinkovich: Glory at Sea by Benh Zeitlin The film starts off a little confusing as people are shown underwater and also being narrated by the lighthearted sound of the kids voice. It makes you want to further watch and to explore the world after the flood. The best part of the short film to me was easily the music. The audio went so well with every single shot in this movie. The final mesmerizing shots of families reuniting underwater with the accomplished sound in the background fit so well together. Overall, it took me awhile to get hooked, but I enjoyed the film and appreciated the story arc of it.
Rolf Konrad: Glory At Sea by Benh Zeitlin Pretty wild film. Maybe I’m just bad at paying attention, but this was kinda confusing for me to follow. Even though I was not the best at following the story to this film, I still found it very entertaining. The music in this piece I thought worked very well. I was not always able to understand the story, but I did hear some very nice music being played throughout the work. There is one scene in which the music abruptly cuts out. I thought that was a cool way to use sound. Perhaps a second watch of the film is in order so that I can actually understand it.
Peyton Wilkins: Glory at Sea This film starts off confusing and remains confusing until the end when everyone is united. For some reason I kept thinking the kid who was narrating was the same boy who becomes friends with the man who was washed up from sea. Each character was different, but it never really revealed why each of them went on the trip. I didn't pick up who the narrators father was until the end. Also, does it ever reveal what became of the preacher? I assumed he died along with everyone else. The film was enjoyable excluding all the confusion.
John Anderson: Glory at Sea by Benh Zeitlin I like the music that plays almost entirely throughout the first 10 minutes of this film. It's cheery even though it doesn't seem like a time to be cheery, but that seems like one of the themes of this film; maybe not exactly cheery, but optimistic through the eyes of the people who are in this extremely difficult situation of facing a storm after just being hit by one. Some built make-shift rafts using beds, others carry objects the cheer them up like instruments. They throw a parade and play songs on their instruments that sound like game day band music. On a raft at sea, they throw a party with banjos, fireworks and alcohol. Overall I liked this film a lot and think is was the best one out of all the blog posts this semester.
Glory at the Sea The color of this film makes it one of my favorites. The color flows with the overall tone and especially the set design. It is just Gritty and Beautiful in it's own way. The score assists in the tone and was possibly the best part of the film. While I have to admit that I was confused, I respect this directorial approach even if I don't know if I would have the guts to execute a film like this.
Jonathan Holle: Glory At Sea! is an excellent example of proper world-building. Not only is the underworld myth introduced deftly, but the grungy, damp, and religiously fundamental nature of the world the character's inhabit is done both subtlety and efficiently. Every character is easily understood after one or two lines (the father, the preacher, seargeant major, etc). This provides a stark contrast with a work such as God Of Love which, although my favorite of the two, relies on hackneyed narration and self-description to understand the world, rather than simple mise-en-scene and character dialogue. This film is able to provide not only mythos, but also a verisimilitudinious world for that mythos to inhabit, since the mythos is so both diegetically and extra-diagetically, within just a few minutes at the beginning of the film, allowing the audience to move on and focus on the story without mulling over the diegesis. Glory At Sea is an excellent work of cinema.
Keri Drake: Glory at Sea by Benh Zeitlin The music in this film got the story really well. Loved the scene of the pastor in the beginning telling a message, also the narrator's voice fit went so good with the message. Overall, it was a very good and powerful introduction to set the tone of the film. The old fashioned type of scenes really went well, and the producer chose some really good shot compositions. I love the end how all of the loved ones ended up being back together as one, very powerful scene and ties into where the title of the film comes from.
Ben Boynton: Glory At Sea This was a pretty interesting short film. I particularly enjoyed the underwater filming. I thought it was well executed and they managed to get some really good shots under the water. It was almost better to me than the filming done above water. The coloring of the film was another strong point. The music meshed well with the video to create a powerful mood throughout the piece, particularly in the beginning during the pastor's speech during what I think was a funeral, though I didn't know if the people were supposed to be dead or sirens or whatever. It was a little confusing of a film, as I got lost several times trying to follow the plotline. I think the narration being from the little boy was a good decision, because it kind of fit the narrative of limited knowledge presented throughout. All in all, it was an interesting movie, but I was pretty confused during it and spent most of my time trying to comprehend it.
Chris O'Connor: Glory at Sea by Benh Zeitlin I felt this film was unique yet quite confusing at times. I didn't fully understand the story until the ending. I liked the shot composition used, especially the underwater scenes, creating a sense of realism and confusion. The music complimented the film very well and I felt the acting was very well done. Overall, I enjoyed the film but would have liked a more cohesive and clear story.
This film was so cool! The way it opened was extremely impressive. I kept wondering how they shot the underwater scenes. Of course I know there are special equipment for scenes that are shot underwater, but I kept wondering how they made it appear so clear and also how the actors were able to hold their breath. Obviously it was shot in many takes. It had to of been but overall it was shot very nicely and immediately pulled me into the story and wanted me to watch more. The whole story line was extremely interested beginning at the very beginning and especially when the director begins developing each characters identities and personalities by showing close ups of their faces and their relationships to the others floating around at sea especially for the guy who was later pulled away and through the ocean.
In addition, I loved the music in this piece. It was powerful and complimentary in all of the right ways. It really tied everything and all of the scenes and story line together without pulling away from the action on the screen.
Out of all the films we had to watch for the blog posts, this was probably my favorite. Although the story was a confusing as all hell, I really enjoyed the music that was used and even the narration that was going on. It really enticed me and out of all the films I felt that this one was probably the closest to an actual feature film. The only critiques, or problems, I have for this film is that it is rather confusing and I did not really understand what was going on even at the end. Other than that, though, I really enjoyed this film.
Tyler Mcilwain: Glory at Sea by Benh Zeitlin This was my most favorite work of the semester. The story was incredible and the way it was told made an excellent piece of cinema. Firstly, what an amazing opening to the film under water. The story begins in a mythical destination underwater symbolizing a spiritual afterlife. The story rewinds to tell of how these people got to this point. As the story unfolds you learn of contrasting characters all with a common goal to reach this underwater destination where their loved ones are. The theme and looks of the film were most likely chosen with the budget in mind but works exceptionally. One thing that stuck out to me was the boat. As the building of the boat progresses I noticed the actual boat hidden under all the rubble. The way the boat was built by all the characters and how everyone has their item is just beautiful. The pastor foreshadows the outcome through the entire film and is the backbone of the story. This film has so many different levels in each shot, more than one viewing is needed. Amazing work by the Court 13 team.
Alex Hubbard: Glory at Sea by Behn Zeitlin This was the most abstract film this semester. During the film I kept trying to figure it out: what happened, who is alive, what the symbolism meant, and I still only feel like a grasped a fraction. The use of a child's voice gave the film an innocent calmness. The voice provided a strong contrast to the tragic subject of the disaster. The film often reminded me of the structure of a music video. A specific story, but not done in the typical straight-forward linear structure. The people underwater made the story stray from a strictly linear timeline. Also, similar to a music video, the symbolism was not thoroughly explained and all of the cuts didn't always look like they went together. The film was a collage of moments, with bits of a linear plot integrated within it, with strong symbolism. The most beautiful moment in the film was the end, when the characters were reunited with their families after they drowned. All of this film was done with such a simple idea. A man builds a boat after a disaster, and people join together on a journey to sea. This film embodies how a filmmaker can be so experimental with an idea and still create a great emotional impact.
Sam Sheriff: I'm not sure how I feel about Glory at Sea by Benh Zeitlin. On the one hand I liked the basic story and its allusions to myths and legends, but on the other there were many things that turned me off from it. First of all, there was a green line on the entire right of the screen which may have just been a glitch with Vimeo, but still. I also did not appreciate really any of the performances, especially how they all said their lines. The preacher was the worst example of this with his slow speech that seemed like he was reading off barely memorized lines. I also did not think that the music really fit the film, it seemed at times too poignant, at times too upbeat, and over all somehow generic. I think it added an air of pretentiousness seen in student projects that strive just too hard and end up seeming overdone.
Kristin Whitely: Glory at Sea by Behn Zeitlin The short film Glory at Sea by Behn Zeitlin was a good short film. I love the numerous camera angles in the water, which was very eye-catching. I also love the plot. Very nice choice of music throughout the film. For some strange reason, this film made me very emotional. The quality of the film was very dark. Overall, this is a great short film.
Devin Murphy: Glory at Sea is this short film that portrays motifs like death and loss and a whimsical way, through the eyes of a child. I couldn't help but relate its tone to Beasts of the Southern Wild, a film that takes place in the same general area and is narrated by a child protagonist. The astoundingly well done low budget effects and lighting are truly impressive. The imagery and symbolism in this piece is obvious, but the way that it is incorporated is still striking. The boat of the surviving victims of the storm is symbolic of picking up the pieces to form hope for the future. I felt a lot of The Lovely Bones vibes from the narrator. You can tell she is trapped, and her childlike mind and soul has not left her in death. The whimsy is best captured in the music choices. The score feels mystical in a forlorn way. This wasn't my favorite piece we have watched in this class, but it was interesting and visually stunning.
Ella Oprandy: Glory at Sea by Benh Zeitlin Glory at Sea was not what I expected it to be. This short film was very morbid though it turned out to have a happy ending which I didn't think was really in keeping with the film's overall tone. I liked the muted greens and blues that the underwater videography provided though I'm still no exactly sure what the Underwater was supposed to mean. Was it hell or purgatory? (In reading the logline I see it's Hades). If the people were dead, why could they still move, have thoughts, and even narrate? This film left me with a lot of questions but not in a bad way. This film made me ask the question "why do people celebrate?" several times, specifically when the whole "town" rallies around the boat and when the long-haired man started aggressively playing the piano until it broke. Surely, not everyone believed the boat would bring them to their dead loved ones, but they all played along. Perhaps Zetlin was making some sort of commentary about human nature. I really liked the music at the end, before the movie went definitively sad-ending or happy-ending; I thought it really set the tone and made me want to keep watching. Overall, I was impressed with this film.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGlory at Sea: The film plainly summons myth, yet it is not itself mythic. The film is narrated by a kid, loaning it a feeling of innocence. However, not at all like movies or books in which a kid's portrayal puts an amusingly sweet shine upon occasions which we know truly to be terrible, the anonymous storyteller of Glory at Sea is not precisely temperamental: without a doubt, the voice of an almost suffocated child appears the ideal course for a story that comes this near catastrophe, yet is additionally this Romantically dedicated to the inevitable accomplishment of the great. That we are told the story by a kid makes us expect an incongruity that never at last comes – a motivation that hues a significant part of the film. The score, such as, is excessively great and emotive; yet the film never urges us to take it as satire, or even pastiche, but instead as a genuine establishment of a tradition we may generally dread to take truly. The film oozes a garbled and valiant confidence directly down to the extremely level of its generation. Or maybe like the vessel that its characters develop, this is a low-budget short that goes about as though it trusted itself to be epic. However, as with the best metamodern craftsmanship – and as in the film's own story – this disjunction amongst want and the method for its accomplishment leads not to disappointment, yet rather to a sort of decidedly qualified achievement.
ReplyDeleteAnthony Reed: Glory at Sea by Benh Zeitlin
ReplyDeleteThis was an interesting film. I enjoyed the art it's concept and trying to figure out what it meant. From my understanding this film was about a tragedy resulting from a flood where some loved ones were lost earlier and the characters who were shown throughout the film on the sketchy boat were people who were in transition to the afterlife. The marching band and the music they played is a New Orleans style celebration for the home going of those who have passed away. The ship itself was made out of worldly possessions that these people tried to hold on to to, but in the end they lost all of it and had to let go before they found what meant the most to them. They reunited with the loved ones they lost under water which makes me think they all died from the same fate. The film had a dramatic low contrast hazy feel that gave me the idea that this took place in a purgatory type transitional world given the events. The story was a great concept. I don't know if I'm correct but that's what I got from watching this. It a film that make you think to try to understand what's going on.
It was hard to understand kind of film and demanded more attention to understand the concept, but it was not totally understandable though. The narration was by a child and it was something interesting to me. The underwater cinematography was good for low budget movie like this. The music choice was outstanding. I also liked the listing of the movie it really helped setting the tempo of the film and mood too.
ReplyDeleteBraedan Snow
ReplyDeleteGlory at Sea by Benh Zeitlin
I did not like the aspect that the film was a narrative re creating real life events, because it makes the flood seem more like a story than an actual event that impacted many people. The cross between the images of the the actual damage and the story that went along with it just did not mesh well for me personally. Although, I do like the idea of the survivors taking all the items that were washed away from them, and forming them together to make a boat, which symbolizes new hope; I found it interesting how each person had their own item that contributed to a story unique to them. The music was also overbearing in my opinion, and far too dramatic that it really took over in some spots of the film. I did not like how manic they portrayed the people as, because I have watched a few docs on the subject of hurricane Katrina and people were not throwing parties and raving; the hurricane impacted thousands of people and destroyed everything they had worked for their entire lives. I know that the intent of this film is not to mock the tragedy in any way, but for me personally it does not sit very well. I will say the ending was very powerful and bittersweet to see everyone reunite with their loved ones, and was definitely the highlight of the film and once place the music worked to its advantage.
Kelsey Peterson: Glory at Sea by Benh Zeitlin
ReplyDeleteWhen this film first started, I was initially confused. It starts out with light happy music and then shows people drowning under water while the music was playing. I usually like to know what is going on in a film right away and I just couldn’t figure it out while watching this. You really had to pay attention and think about it to get it to make sense. All together I think the end was the best part of the film, where they get to reunite with their loved ones it gave me a satisfactory feel even though I cant say I really enjoyed the film. Most scenes were shot using an old type of filter, where nothing was really in focus. This helped with the tone of the film. I would say Zeitlin did a good job determining the tone of the film, it was somewhat of a tragedy but the music made it a little more uplifting. Overall, this was a great film but not something I would typically enjoy watching.
Katy Hale: Glory at Sea by Behn Zeitlin
ReplyDeleteFrom the very beginning, I was hopeful. I predicted what the film was going to be about but I was completely wrong. The underwater shots were very clever but also very blurry. After realizing they were blurry it made complete sense as to why they were blurry because when you open your eyes underwater, it isn't perfectly clear. Therefore, I thought that was super cool. Each character was very odd and different. They each had a reason to be there but I could not figure out why for some of them. There were a lot of extra people I did not even pay attention to. A lot of the shots were dark and loud which was confusing but it seemed to work for the environment of the film. I wonder if in post that was color corrected or if they meant to have it that dark. As a viewer, I felt rushed and overwhelmed. Everything was very hectic and cluttered. The only time I felt a sense of release or calmness was during the underwater shots. I felt safe when the characters would go under water. The drunk scene on the boat was fun to watch until shit hit the fan. Once the boat separated, I felt a sense of release but I was still confused. I liked how it ended, but I'm still left with a lot of questions.
Gretchen Franz: Glory at Sea
ReplyDeleteI didn’t read the description before I started watching, and within the first couple seconds I thought, “this reminds me so much of Beasts of the Southern Wild, wow!” As the music played and it seemed even MORE like Beasts of the Southern Wild, I decided to read the description because I felt like I was missing something. Surprise- “directly preceded the development and production of Beasts of the Southern Wild”!! Makes sense now. Onto analyzing the actual film… The shaky camera movements and breaking of the 180 degree rule make this film rather disorienting, but the goes with the theme of the film. Additionally, it comes off as a documentary, though it is a narrative. I loved all of the dynamic shots in this film, though they may not be technically good, they show what they need to show. My favorite shot is with the two boys running through the junkyard with their instruments. I think the music played a huge part in developing this story and showing that all these people had was each other, but as long as they had each other, they could have a good time. It was hard to determine the story or the plot of this film until the last minute though and even then, I’m wondering if I really grasp it.
Nick Stellon: Glory at Sea
ReplyDeleteFor me, this is the most powerful short film we've watched this semester. It focuses on a community coping with the devastation of a storm. How the film tells this story is unique. It shows each member of this community, with their own loss and their own distinct personality, come together to build a boat. They fill this boat with the possessions left behind from the storm, and they sail off to find their loved ones. The characters in this film are perfectly developed. For a short time with such a large ensemble, the film makes you latch onto each one of them. I thought that the preacher was a great example of this. When his only home, the church, is burned to the ground, you feel deep sorrow for him. That is until he becomes a part of the community once more when he places a cross on the boat. This is just one of many examples of how the filmmakers develop their characters perfectly. I thought that one of the best pieces of this film was the soundtrack. It sets the audience up for an epic journey, and the film delivers. From a production standpoint this film is beautiful. The underwater shots in particular are magnificent, and the handheld camera style help build on the film rather than take away from it. Everything in this film has a specific meaning. Every character has a function, every shot has a purpose, every prop has it's place. This is a whole film. It's no surprise to me that it works so well.
Alex Harris - Glory at Sea by Benh Zeitlin
ReplyDeleteHave you ever had those weird dreams? The ones that include little bits of real life but then smash them together with other movies or things you read? This felt like one of those dreams. Its story was just coherent enough to make you want to try and make sense of it, but just strange enough to make every attempt more and more difficult. Now this doesn't take away from the powerful acting and very deliberate camera work. The combinations of feelings evoked by this one piece was another high point of the film. All in all, a very strange and intriguing piece.
Karenya Garrett
ReplyDeleteGlory At Sea by Benh Zeitlin
From the beginning of the film, I was confused. Seeing all these people underwater, my original idea was that this film has been just some weird experimental situation. But as I continued to watch, I saw that it was more than meets the eye. That the story was watching how these people were coping, not just with the storm, but with themselves. That all of these people coming together and building this boat trying to sail away and find their loved ones and also find themselves, post-storm. I will say that this film does give off the "Beasts of the Southern Wild" feel to it. But that's what makes the film work and tell its story effectively. Surviving a storm is not easy and finding a way to start new with the things that were left behind is not easy either. The use of the kid narration and the shaky camera movements add effect and allows for the audience to see how this community really interacts. The music and the enhanced sound effects really made the film, pop and show post-storm survival in a different light. The underwater shots showed what it was really like to look underwater, murky and blurry, and not crisp and clear other movies make it seem to be. I liked, though because it made the film feel real. Overall, I think this film might be a favorite one to have watched this semester because the story was beautiful the film aesthetics really captured the life and its colors.
Cody Quinn: Glory at Sea by Cody Quinn
ReplyDeleteThis film was very confusing for me. Honestly, I didn't like it very much. The story was not particularly interesting to me and was kinda hard to understand. However, I do feel like the actors were great and the camera work was very smooth and had some great shots. Also, as a musician, I thoroughly enjoyed the music as I feel it matched the film's mood. Even though I didn't completely get attached and understand the meaning completely, it had some very nice technical aspects.
Sam Flowers : Glory at Sea by Ben Zeitlin
ReplyDeleteI found this week's film very confusing and for the most part, not very good. When I first saw all the people under water I really didn't know what to think, but I did like how everything kind of came out as the film developed. Although I thought the film wasn't that great, I still enjoyed the music, the acting was pretty good, and I also enjoyed the underwater shots, which gave it a very realistic feel. I also enjoyed some of the filming locations. This film definitely had some good qualities but I felt like some steps could have been made to make it less confusing.
Glory At Sea: Kat Flandermeyer
ReplyDeleteThis was a intriguing film. It was slightly confusing in the plot department, and still had me with a few questions at the very end. I think the ending was meant to imply the characters joined their family in some kind of watery afterlife, but it wasn't explicit.
I liked a lot of the imagery in this film: the lucky items that survived the flood, the dock poles acting as gravestones, the narrator's spaghetti hat, the floating Elysium road sign. It combined mythic ideas with the southern-flavored culture of the movie. I also liked the mix of the church with the different mythos the people were following. When the boat broke apart, the preacher stayed afloat on the half with the cross. His faith kept him from sinking, but since it can be argued that the people wanted to sink, did he really win?
Set design was a strength. All the major pieces gave off an erie look. The skeleton of the boat the children hid things in looked like a beached dead whale. The bed in the tree was off from the moment you saw it. The church had more candles than a mausoleum, and the underwater world was connected to the top by long rings of seaweed, like some strange umbilical cord. The filmmakers didn't try to make the water look clearer or boost the lighting in the film; I think in doing so they kept the slightly dirty look of everything. Clear water would have only seemed strange.
One of my favorite shots had to be the man sitting on top of Tess' pole. He looked like an ungainly bird up there.
Overall I liked this one, even if it takes some analysis to understand the plot. Really enjoyable.
Virginia Nobles: So that was very interesting and very sweet. I didn't completely understand it but I'm happy that everyone was reunited. I'll admit, I cried. The scene composition was well thought out and put together well. I'm sure those weren't very easy shots to get. The music went well with each scene. It was a creative storyline but I'm not completely sure whether all those people at the bottom of the ocean were dead and then their family members just came and drowned so they could be with them or if they were dead and waiting to be resurrected once they were found by their family or what, but it was definitely interesting to watch. I really enjoyed it. It was a little long but I think each scene added was key in the story and wouldn't have been as good if it were shorter. Overall it was good.
ReplyDeleteKyle Heinze: Glory at Sea by Kat Flandermayer
ReplyDeleteWhile I found this film to be interesting and unique, I also found it very confusing. I almost feel as though there is a key piece of information that I missed, that the filmmakers assumed people would understand. As the story developed, I began to understand more, but simultaneously felt more confused. The film quality itself isn't the best, which may just be a stylistic choice that I did not understand. From what I could comprehend, the message seemed to be powerful, but I feel as though it can easily go over many people's heads. The overall tone of unity through loss was compelling but didn't have the impact I think it could have, had the story-line been more clearly delivered.
Dylan Milinkovich: Glory at Sea by Benh Zeitlin
ReplyDeleteThe film starts off a little confusing as people are shown underwater and also being narrated by the lighthearted sound of the kids voice. It makes you want to further watch and to explore the world after the flood. The best part of the short film to me was easily the music. The audio went so well with every single shot in this movie. The final mesmerizing shots of families reuniting underwater with the accomplished sound in the background fit so well together. Overall, it took me awhile to get hooked, but I enjoyed the film and appreciated the story arc of it.
Rolf Konrad: Glory At Sea by Benh Zeitlin
ReplyDeletePretty wild film. Maybe I’m just bad at paying attention, but this was kinda confusing for me to follow. Even though I was not the best at following the story to this film, I still found it very entertaining. The music in this piece I thought worked very well. I was not always able to understand the story, but I did hear some very nice music being played throughout the work. There is one scene in which the music abruptly cuts out. I thought that was a cool way to use sound. Perhaps a second watch of the film is in order so that I can actually understand it.
Peyton Wilkins: Glory at Sea
ReplyDeleteThis film starts off confusing and remains confusing until the end when everyone is united. For some reason I kept thinking the kid who was narrating was the same boy who becomes friends with the man who was washed up from sea. Each character was different, but it never really revealed why each of them went on the trip. I didn't pick up who the narrators father was until the end. Also, does it ever reveal what became of the preacher? I assumed he died along with everyone else. The film was enjoyable excluding all the confusion.
John Anderson: Glory at Sea by Benh Zeitlin
ReplyDeleteI like the music that plays almost entirely throughout the first 10 minutes of this film. It's cheery even though it doesn't seem like a time to be cheery, but that seems like one of the themes of this film; maybe not exactly cheery, but optimistic through the eyes of the people who are in this extremely difficult situation of facing a storm after just being hit by one. Some built make-shift rafts using beds, others carry objects the cheer them up like instruments. They throw a parade and play songs on their instruments that sound like game day band music. On a raft at sea, they throw a party with banjos, fireworks and alcohol. Overall I liked this film a lot and think is was the best one out of all the blog posts this semester.
Glory at the Sea
ReplyDeleteThe color of this film makes it one of my favorites. The color flows with the overall tone and especially the set design. It is just Gritty and Beautiful in it's own way. The score assists in the tone and was possibly the best part of the film. While I have to admit that I was confused, I respect this directorial approach even if I don't know if I would have the guts to execute a film like this.
Jonathan Holle: Glory At Sea! is an excellent example of proper world-building. Not only is the underworld myth introduced deftly, but the grungy, damp, and religiously fundamental nature of the world the character's inhabit is done both subtlety and efficiently. Every character is easily understood after one or two lines (the father, the preacher, seargeant major, etc). This provides a stark contrast with a work such as God Of Love which, although my favorite of the two, relies on hackneyed narration and self-description to understand the world, rather than simple mise-en-scene and character dialogue. This film is able to provide not only mythos, but also a verisimilitudinious world for that mythos to inhabit, since the mythos is so both diegetically and extra-diagetically, within just a few minutes at the beginning of the film, allowing the audience to move on and focus on the story without mulling over the diegesis. Glory At Sea is an excellent work of cinema.
ReplyDeleteKeri Drake: Glory at Sea by Benh Zeitlin
ReplyDeleteThe music in this film got the story really well. Loved the scene of the pastor in the beginning telling a message, also the narrator's voice fit went so good with the message. Overall, it was a very good and powerful introduction to set the tone of the film. The old fashioned type of scenes really went well, and the producer chose some really good shot compositions. I love the end how all of the loved ones ended up being back together as one, very powerful scene and ties into where the title of the film comes from.
Ben Boynton: Glory At Sea
ReplyDeleteThis was a pretty interesting short film. I particularly enjoyed the underwater filming. I thought it was well executed and they managed to get some really good shots under the water. It was almost better to me than the filming done above water. The coloring of the film was another strong point. The music meshed well with the video to create a powerful mood throughout the piece, particularly in the beginning during the pastor's speech during what I think was a funeral, though I didn't know if the people were supposed to be dead or sirens or whatever. It was a little confusing of a film, as I got lost several times trying to follow the plotline. I think the narration being from the little boy was a good decision, because it kind of fit the narrative of limited knowledge presented throughout. All in all, it was an interesting movie, but I was pretty confused during it and spent most of my time trying to comprehend it.
Chris O'Connor: Glory at Sea by Benh Zeitlin
ReplyDeleteI felt this film was unique yet quite confusing at times. I didn't fully understand the story until the ending. I liked the shot composition used, especially the underwater scenes, creating a sense of realism and confusion. The music complimented the film very well and I felt the acting was very well done. Overall, I enjoyed the film but would have liked a more cohesive and clear story.
Miranda Fulmore: Glory at Sea by Benh Zeitlin
ReplyDeleteThis film was so cool! The way it opened was extremely impressive. I kept wondering how they shot the underwater scenes. Of course I know there are special equipment for scenes that are shot underwater, but I kept wondering how they made it appear so clear and also how the actors were able to hold their breath. Obviously it was shot in many takes. It had to of been but overall it was shot very nicely and immediately pulled me into the story and wanted me to watch more. The whole story line was extremely interested beginning at the very beginning and especially when the director begins developing each characters identities and personalities by showing close ups of their faces and their relationships to the others floating around at sea especially for the guy who was later pulled away and through the ocean.
In addition, I loved the music in this piece. It was powerful and complimentary in all of the right ways. It really tied everything and all of the scenes and story line together without pulling away from the action on the screen.
Justin LaSor: Glory at Sea by Benh Zeitlin
ReplyDeleteOut of all the films we had to watch for the blog posts, this was probably my favorite. Although the story was a confusing as all hell, I really enjoyed the music that was used and even the narration that was going on. It really enticed me and out of all the films I felt that this one was probably the closest to an actual feature film. The only critiques, or problems, I have for this film is that it is rather confusing and I did not really understand what was going on even at the end. Other than that, though, I really enjoyed this film.
Tyler Mcilwain: Glory at Sea by Benh Zeitlin
ReplyDeleteThis was my most favorite work of the semester. The story was incredible and the way it was told made an excellent piece of cinema. Firstly, what an amazing opening to the film under water. The story begins in a mythical destination underwater symbolizing a spiritual afterlife. The story rewinds to tell of how these people got to this point. As the story unfolds you learn of contrasting characters all with a common goal to reach this underwater destination where their loved ones are. The theme and looks of the film were most likely chosen with the budget in mind but works exceptionally. One thing that stuck out to me was the boat. As the building of the boat progresses I noticed the actual boat hidden under all the rubble. The way the boat was built by all the characters and how everyone has their item is just beautiful. The pastor foreshadows the outcome through the entire film and is the backbone of the story. This film has so many different levels in each shot, more than one viewing is needed. Amazing work by the Court 13 team.
Alex Hubbard: Glory at Sea by Behn Zeitlin
ReplyDeleteThis was the most abstract film this semester. During the film I kept trying to figure it out: what happened, who is alive, what the symbolism meant, and I still only feel like a grasped a fraction.
The use of a child's voice gave the film an innocent calmness. The voice provided a strong contrast to the tragic subject of the disaster.
The film often reminded me of the structure of a music video. A specific story, but not done in the typical straight-forward linear structure. The people underwater made the story stray from a strictly linear timeline. Also, similar to a music video, the symbolism was not thoroughly explained and all of the cuts didn't always look like they went together. The film was a collage of moments, with bits of a linear plot integrated within it, with strong symbolism.
The most beautiful moment in the film was the end, when the characters were reunited with their families after they drowned.
All of this film was done with such a simple idea. A man builds a boat after a disaster, and people join together on a journey to sea. This film embodies how a filmmaker can be so experimental with an idea and still create a great emotional impact.
Sam Sheriff: I'm not sure how I feel about Glory at Sea by Benh Zeitlin. On the one hand I liked the basic story and its allusions to myths and legends, but on the other there were many things that turned me off from it. First of all, there was a green line on the entire right of the screen which may have just been a glitch with Vimeo, but still. I also did not appreciate really any of the performances, especially how they all said their lines. The preacher was the worst example of this with his slow speech that seemed like he was reading off barely memorized lines. I also did not think that the music really fit the film, it seemed at times too poignant, at times too upbeat, and over all somehow generic. I think it added an air of pretentiousness seen in student projects that strive just too hard and end up seeming overdone.
ReplyDeleteKristin Whitely: Glory at Sea by Behn Zeitlin
ReplyDeleteThe short film Glory at Sea by Behn Zeitlin was a good short film. I love the numerous camera angles in the water, which was very eye-catching. I also love the plot. Very nice choice of music throughout the film. For some strange reason, this film made me very emotional. The quality of the film was very dark. Overall, this is a great short film.
Devin Murphy:
ReplyDeleteGlory at Sea is this short film that portrays motifs like death and loss and a whimsical way, through the eyes of a child. I couldn't help but relate its tone to Beasts of the Southern Wild, a film that takes place in the same general area and is narrated by a child protagonist. The astoundingly well done low budget effects and lighting are truly impressive. The imagery and symbolism in this piece is obvious, but the way that it is incorporated is still striking. The boat of the surviving victims of the storm is symbolic of picking up the pieces to form hope for the future. I felt a lot of The Lovely Bones vibes from the narrator. You can tell she is trapped, and her childlike mind and soul has not left her in death. The whimsy is best captured in the music choices. The score feels mystical in a forlorn way. This wasn't my favorite piece we have watched in this class, but it was interesting and visually stunning.
Ella Oprandy: Glory at Sea by Benh Zeitlin
ReplyDeleteGlory at Sea was not what I expected it to be. This short film was very morbid though it turned out to have a happy ending which I didn't think was really in keeping with the film's overall tone. I liked the muted greens and blues that the underwater videography provided though I'm still no exactly sure what the Underwater was supposed to mean. Was it hell or purgatory? (In reading the logline I see it's Hades). If the people were dead, why could they still move, have thoughts, and even narrate? This film left me with a lot of questions but not in a bad way. This film made me ask the question "why do people celebrate?" several times, specifically when the whole "town" rallies around the boat and when the long-haired man started aggressively playing the piano until it broke. Surely, not everyone believed the boat would bring them to their dead loved ones, but they all played along. Perhaps Zetlin was making some sort of commentary about human nature. I really liked the music at the end, before the movie went definitively sad-ending or happy-ending; I thought it really set the tone and made me want to keep watching. Overall, I was impressed with this film.