Riders to the Sea

This clever, funny, surf short from Ireland, Riders to the Sea, is written and directed by Orla Welsh. I saw it as part of the Ocean Film Festival touring Australia a couple of weeks ago.



Clever and funny, huh. I like when women are presented as more than surfing damsels in distress, and this woman most certainly is all over this situation. I also like when women are presented as having a sexuality that isn't passive or disinterested. And hers certainly isn't. Well, until she notices the empty waves. It think it was my favourite film from the festival and it was certainly the most original. Thanks, Orla Welsh!

A quick search about the name of the film reveals that it is the same as a famous Irish play from 1904. From the related Wikipedia page:
A one-act tragedy, the play is set in the Aran Islands, and like all of Synge's plays it is noted for capturing the poetic dialogue of rural Ireland. The very simple plot is based not on the traditional conflict of human wills but on the hopeless struggle of a people against the impersonal but relentless cruelty of the sea.
I wish I could know more about whether these names are connected or not and why. The surfing is done by Irish surfer, Easkey Britton, who is pretty cool. I'll post more about her soon...

Comments

  1. Ollie11:17 AM

    Hehe, very sweet... :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous9:10 AM

    Thanks for your kind and insightful remarks. Yes, the titles are linked in a ironic, punning way. Riding as you may know is a euphemism for sex in Ireland and I was thinking of another brilliant doc Wave Riders.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous9:11 AM

    PS above remark is from writer and director Orla Walsh

    ReplyDelete

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