synthesis magazine review - "the calm"

The Calm at the Edge of the Sea
2007-10-02

Written By: James Barone

The Calm at the Edge of the Sea is truly a family affair. Director/screenwriter Camerin Kelly — a native of the small Northern California town of Magalia — employed a host of friends and family to create this, his latest feature co-written and directed with Brian Zarin. Working with a shoestring budget and limited resourses, Kelly, Zarin and company have nonetheless created an engaging film.

Travis (Gary Douglas Kohn) moves from Los Angeles to rural Northern California after the death of his mother. His uncle Pete (Mervin Gilbert) takes him in, even though the two don’t have much of a history together. A far cry from his work in the film industry in the big city, Travis gets a job helping Billy (Camerin Kelly) with chores around a sheep ranch. Travis seems to find in this remote coastal town the peace he was looking for, but when a relationship forms between he and Billy’s longtime girlfriend Faye (Susan Burke), the place that brought him the respite he yearned for becomes a lot less welcoming.

The action doesn’t always move smoothly. Calm…does have some frustrating moments, with uneven pacing and clunky dialogue, but overall, there is enough here that overcomes its faults. A sense of loneliness and despair looms heavy over the characters and situations. These are people who seem trapped and are either unable, or unwilling, to find a suitable escape, and for the most part, the principle players — Burke, Kelly and Kohn — do a competent job. Though Kohn’s portrayal of Travis can be a bit one dimensional, he does create a sympathetic protagonist. Lighter moments are provided by a group of local fishermen who throw some bawdy humor into the mix, which is a nice change of pace, but it’s Gilbert’s performance as Uncle Pete that really stands out. From his first scene, he establishes his character as instantly relatable, and provides a vital counterpoint — both with his humor and wisdom — to the mid-‘20s angst that permeates the rest of the film. Without him, Calm…may have been a very dour viewing experience.

The film's most striking feature is its sense of place. Director of photography Kyle Burns (Camerin’s brother, who also did an amazing job of location scouting) creates breathtaking shots. Filmed in Fort Bragg, Calm has a great natural backdrop to begin with, but Burns manages to capture both the beauty and desolation of the landscape and makes it a real character in the film. Indoors, the shots become a lot more intimate, and scenes such as a rowdy conversation over dinner and drinks at a crowded Uncle Pete’s house feel almost like a home movie. These strong visual elements are enhanced by a beautiful score composed by Faith Coloccia of Los Angeles-based Everlovely Lightningheart (the band also contributes music for the soundtrack). Coloccia’s sparse piano work punctuates the film’s mournful progression from hope to sorrow.

Calm… is at its best when the filmmakers allow its powerful emotions to speak louder than its words. As the film progresses, it lapses into chilling ambiguity that makes its title seem all the more poignant. It’s not perfect by any means, but for a group of young filmmakers, Calm… certainly shows a world of promise. Kelly is currently looking for a distributor and is also entering Calm… for consideration on the festival circuit (it was already shown at the Mendocino Film Festival in May). For more information, check out the film’s official MySpace page.