Emma Crofts

Beautifully filmed and hypnotic, this movie is a perfect antidote to the shallow, fast paced, over explained American movies we all watch too many of. It’s mostly about love. It’s about giving up everything unimportant to live a true and meaningful life. It’s about human connection, about the difference between being alone and being lonely, and about our vulnerability when we step outside the protective restraints of society. Set in the oppressive, dusty heat of Australia, the scale of the landscape provides a powerful contrast to the small minded, parochial community our main characters inhabit. While one man tries to own and control everything including the ocean, another tries to give up everything including his heart and soul. But no one is purely good or evil and everyone is flawed and carrying their own traumas. Ignore the negative reviews*, pour yourself a glass of something lovely and give yourself over to this beautiful film. *especially those that compare it to a Nicholas Sparks novel. The reviewers have either not watched the film properly or have completely missed the point.