TURNING TIDE/ EN SOLITAIRE

France, 2013, 101 minutes, Colour.
François Cluzet, Samy Seghir, Virginie Efira, Guillaume Canet, Kaarine Vanasse.
Directed by Christophe Offenstein.

Turning Tide is a story of sailing around the world, from France, along Africa to the Cape of Good Hope, crossing the Indian Ocean, coming up by Cape Horn and returning to France.

François Cluzet portrays the sailor, the intensity of his ambition, the work at sea, the rescue of a British sailor, and the predicament of finding a stowaway, a young boy from Mauritius who wants to go to France, the decision for him to stay on the ship, being concealed from the media, the difficulty of his being ill, recovery.

Guillaume Canet plays an expert who is unable to go on the voyage but who keeps in contact and supervises the voyage.

Later there were to be films with Robert Redford, All is Lost as well as Colin Firth in The Mercy, sailing around the world, and his deception to save his reputation.

1. The title? The race? The captain and solitary?

2. The French background, the sequences at sea, land in the distance, the return from the race? The musical score?

3. The recent the situation? Frank and his being unable to participate? The friendship with the young, his undertaking the voyage? Yann his family and their support? Frank and his continued monitoring?

4. The sequences at sea, Yann and his abilities? The details of the voyage, his work, his skills, radio support, contact with his family? Connecting with Frank? The British sailor, coming on board, her rescue?

5. The boy from Mauritius, stealing on board, his age, lack of experience, wanting to go to France? Yann and his response, anger? The continuing with the boy? His keeping out of sight? His illness? Frank knowing? Coming to the rescue? The final triumph?

6. The significance of the race, French interest, media interests, the achievement?

7. The finale, the large welcome, reuniting with family?

8. The popularity of this kind of film at sea, individual saving round the world?