by rogerco on Wed 28th Jun 2023 DVD proj @ home

Meditative

Full review

There is a strong whiff of real Cornwall - the place, not the people - coming from this.

Shot on 16mm with grainy filmstock and some burnt edges, hairs in the gate, and other 'faullts' which somewhat detract from the photography - which if done to modern expectations would have been stunning. There is minimal narrative and dialogue and a languid pace with a soundtrack providing a lurking tension.

It does work, but only just - sometimes almost teetering on the edge of being obscure to a fault, or overladen with presumed meaning that is not evident in the exposition.

We believe it must be significant because we can't see the significance, and if there were none then there would be nothing to it. The film just avoids falling into this void (unlike, say, Tarkovsky's Stalker).

It manages a strong sense of place outside of time, with the character and the ghosts of the past (her past, or her heritage) coexisting in the same reality. Defying categorisation - not really drama, or thriller, or horror, or nature film, or psycho-thriller - it stands on its own. You might get something worthwhile out of it if you approach it with an open mind. If you've seen the trailer or are choosing by genre then you'll probably be disappointed.

As a bonus the DVD also contains the 1984 CFTC film "Haunters of the Deep" which inspired Mark Jenkin (the director of Enys Men). A simple story for children and adults it also has a strong sense of Cornwall (circa 1980 and before) and tin mining set a a dramatic narrative. Well worth watching after Enys Men, if you felt you didn't quite 'get' Enys Men this might help.