Boat Leaving the Port

Starring: N/A
Directed by: Louis Lumiere
Rating: Not rated
Genre: Short, Documentary
Length: 42 seconds
1895

Times Seen:
Tim: 3

Summary: Three men row out of the port in a small rowboat, battling rough seas.

Review:

Tim: I like the action involved in this short documentary film from Louis Lumiere. It features three men rowing a boat in rough seas, while two women and some children watch from shore. Not a lot can happen in a short period of time, but it's surprisingly interesting.

The rough seas are the most interesting part of the film. The waves aren't hurricane-level, but they are a bit choppy. It's fun to see the little rowboat bobbing up and down as the men ride out the waves. The women and children on shore give the impression that they are leaving the safety and security of the port, and their families. Another chunk of land can vaguely be seen in the distance, on the horizon. Unfortunately, the most interesting part of the whole film happens right before the end. The boat is riding the waves, it turns sideways, and it hits a particularly rough wave. Just as our eyes are watching to see the boat will handle this wave, the film ends. It was a little frustrating, because the beginning of the film is a bit slow. I wish they started filming later.

As I'm writing this, I wonder if this is one of the earliest instances of a cliff-hanger conclusion to a film. That was certainly unintentional, but it was humorous to watch- they hit a big wave, and...... fade to black. It did give the film the tinest sliver of suspense at the end.

This might not be my favorite Lumiere film, but it's fairly enjoyable. It manages to hold our attention for the whole 45 seconds of the film. It's worth checking out if you like this kind of thing.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: N/A



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Sprinkler Sprinkled