Leisa Gwenllian

On the Sea

30/07/26

Filmhouse, Edinburgh

In the immediate wake of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, new cinema releases have been in somewhat short supply. Most studios have chosen to give the screens a hard pass for a couple of weeks while the general population battles to secure themselves any empty seats in an IMAX screening.

As the title suggests, On the Sea shares one important component with the story of Odysseus – it does feature a sea voyage at one point – but, in terms of scale, writer/director Helen Walsh’s sombre tale, set in present day Ynys Môn (Anglesey) really couldn’t be any less epic. This is an intensely-focused story of love, desire and – ultimately – tragedy.

It’s the tale of Jack (Barry Ward), a mussel harvester who has been plying his back-breaking trade for many years. Working alongside his bullish brother, Dyfan (Celyn Jones), he’s managed to carve out a decent living for himself, his wife, Maggie (Liz White), and his teenage son, Tom (Henry Lawfull), selling on his harvests to high-end restaurants.

But not everything is running to plan. Jack is currently in remission from cancer and knows all-too well that it could return at any point. Meanwhile, Tom really isn’t keen on the thought of a life spent scrabbling in the mud for crustaceans and is clearly more interested in running around with a rough crowd of trouble makers. He’s also spending a lot of time with his girlfriend, Lois (Leisa Gwenllian, star of recent Welsh language hit, Effi O Blaenau – though it must be said that she is given far less to do here).

After an incident when the elderly owner of a trawler is injured by Tom’s new friends, Jack steps in to look after the old man and is afforded the opportunity to (quite literally) venture out into new waters. He also strikes up a friendship with young hired hand, Daniel (Lorne MacFadyen), one that quickly and unexpectedly ignites into a full-blown love affair…

This simple but powerful film captures the look and feel of a small Welsh fishing community in intricate detail. Every frame of Sam Goldie’s cinematography amplifies the bleak, unforgiving nature of the landscape, while Felix Rösch’s ethereal soundtrack appears to find its inspiration in the excesses of the weather. Watching Jack and his team work through the hours dredging mussels from the shallows makes me feel like I’m working alongside them.

The performances are terrific, particularly from Ward and MacFadyen as the central duo, both of them bound by the power of their mutual passion. White is impressive too, as Maggie reacts with understandable shock to the implosion of her marriage, yet manages somehow to remain steadfast and gracious.

Those who’ve had had their fill of bombastic special effects and are looking for something more subtle will find much to enjoy in this deceptively simple story. And, as a North Walian myself, I’m delighted to see my fellow Gogs beginning to make their mark on the big screen.

4 stars

Philip Caveney

Effi o Blaenau

21/06/26

Cameo Cinema, Edinburgh

Back in April 2020, we saw a production on Digital Theatre, a monologue written by Gary Owen and starring Sophie Melville. The piece rejoiced under the unusual title Iphigenia in Splott, and was loosely based around the Greek myth of Iphigenia, the daughter of Agamemnon, sacrificed to ensure the success of the men who governed her. Set in Splott in South Wales, it was a unflinching reinterpretation of the original tale and one that we both enjoyed.

So when the release of Effi o Blenau is announced, we quickly make the connection. Owen has teamed up with Branwen Kennard to adapt the piece for the big screen and the setting has shifted North to Blaenau Ffestiniog. The central role of Effi is played by Leisa Gwenllian and, while it still follows the same central premise, the story (now in Welsh language) has been opened up to include other characters, some of whom were mentioned in the original piece.

Effi is a young woman living a debauched existence in a town stricken by unemployment. She regularly seeks solace at the bottom of a vodka bottle, partying with her best friend, Gemma (Nel Rhys Lewis), and with her ‘sort-of’ boyfriend, Kev (Owen Alun), who can always be relied upon to get his mitts on some drugs. But on a night out in Llandudno, Effi encounters Lee (Tom Rhys Harries), an ex-soldier and she falls in love at first sight. She accompanies him back to his friend’s flat, where she discovers that Lee has lost a limb on active service. A night of passion ensues and she tells herself that this is the real thing.

She settles down to wait for him to get in touch with her…

This is a perfect example of how a simple theatrical piece can be turned into a winning slice of cinema. Though it’s a bleak and hard-hitting story, an excoriating condemnation of contemporary politics, this is thrilling stuff. Gwenllian’s performance in the lead role is fabulous, as her character begins the long and punishing slide into desperation. I also love Alun’s depiction of Kev, a man constantly trying to do the right thing by the woman he loves, even though she simply doesn’t love him back. The drab, run down locations are evocatively captured by cinematographer Eira Wyn Jones, and there’s a long, harrowing sequence in an ambulance hurtling through a snow storm in the dead of night that really cranks up the suspense. There’s also a touch of redemption, when Effi is given support by a very forgiving neighbour.

Clearly, a Welsh language polemic isn’t going to compete with the likes of Toy Story 5 or The World Cup for the public’s attention, but for those who like gritty, hard-hitting drama, this is well worth consideration.

4.4 stars

Philip Caveney