Sailing a Sinking Sea

The Moken are a semi-nomadic tribe—living along the Andaman Sea coastline that stretches from Myanmar to Thailand—whose existence is primarily based on fishing and other parts of the aquatic ecosystem. Filmmaker Olivia Wyatt's unusual cinematic essay on Moken culture uses avant-garde visual and audio effects to highlight the subject. Narrated in the Moken language by tribal members (never shown onscreen), the film follows the Moken on their seafaring adventures, which includes a stunning underwater sequence that opens with the camera on the spear of a diver as he plunges into the waves. However, Wyatt also includes obvious effects to give some scenes the appearance of being worn out and scratched, which calls more attention to the filmmaking than the genuinely fascinating people being covered. Viewers interested in Asian culture may grow impatient with Wyatt's approach, but aspiring filmmakers might be intrigued by her attempt to present an ethnographic documentary in a non-traditional manner. A strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)