Enys Men

Shows the through-line from Epstein’s LE TEMPESTAIRE to those BBC folk boil classics, evoking Gordon Clark’s STIGMA the most. Its assurance in approach keeps you invested through a main character who basically only speaks through action and hesitation. The many threads, though, don’t find needed satisfaction - even that oblique art-house kind. ENYS MEN looks just like its ilk from 50 years ago, and if it came out then, it’d be a whispered oddity. Now it’s just odd.

Something for all those who thought The Lighthouse was too straightforward. There's something to be said for the fact that the Cornish language is all but dead; it's a story lost, floating and bobbing in time, a myth written in barely discernible scratchings. I have no idea what's going on, but I'm transfixed by it.

Jenkin's confidence in his film, Enys Men, is justified as its imagery, and Woodvine's expressive face carry it without a narrative engine. The film's haunting portrayal of grief and loneliness casts a unique spell, where the absence of answers adds up to a vivid portrait. The Volunteer, alone on a reflective island, can't escape past tragedies that pierce her solace.

"Enys Men" has its merits in terms of visuals and sound design, but the lack of a clear narrative and slow pacing overshadow these strengths. While some viewers may appreciate the experimental nature of the movie, its shortcomings in storytelling and character development ultimately make it a forgettable experience for the majority of the audience.

Striking visuals and sounds channeling Cornish folklore. Its non-linear approach and lack of compromise make it quite challenging to follow. Not for everyone, it will be accused of 'style over substance' but a triumph for arthouse cinema.