Man of Aran: A brutal, beautiful look at survival

Is it worth watching?

If you like movies that feel like a cold wind against your face, sure. If you need a plot that moves along at a brisk pace or character development that feels like a modern drama, you might want to skip this one. It's for the patient viewer, the kind who likes to stare at waves for a long time.

Flaherty didn't just film these people; he kind of put them in a blender of his own expectations. Some of the fishing scenes are so intense they feel like they’re about to snap the screen in half.

Watching them hunt for a shark—the basking shark, I think—is one of those moments where you forget you’re watching a movie from the 1930s. The waves are just huge. They look like they could crush a boat like a soda can. 🌊

I found myself wondering if they were actually in danger. It sure looks like it. You can see the exhaustion on their faces, which isn't acting. That’s just being wet and cold in Ireland for a living.

There's this one shot of a woman carrying a heavy load of seaweed up a cliff that just sticks in your brain. No dialogue, just the sound of the wind and the crunch of rock. It makes The Arizona Kid feel like a theme park ride, honestly.

Sometimes the film feels a bit too composed, you know? Like Flaherty was constantly whispering, "Okay, now look over there and struggle a bit more for the camera." It’s not quite a documentary, but it’s not really a fiction film either.

The weird parts

• The shark hunting sequence is way longer than you expect. It's basically a marathon of stress.
• The way they edit the weather changes is almost comical, like the sun and the storm are playing tag.
• The silence is heavier than the dialogue.

It isn't a film you 'enjoy' in the usual way. You sort of endure it. It’s a bit like sitting through A Self-Made Failure in reverse; instead of watching someone try to build a life, you’re watching people barely manage to hold onto the one they’ve got.

I think the people who will hate this are the ones who want things to happen now. There is no 'now' here. There is only the sea, the rock, and the boat. It’s repetitive, sure. But life on those islands was probably just as repetitive.

The cinematography is surprisingly punchy. For a black and white film from that era, the contrast is sharp. The rocks look like teeth. It’s almost aggressive.

I’m not sure if it’s a 'masterpiece' or just a very stubborn piece of filmmaking. Maybe both. Either way, it makes you want to go buy a thick wool sweater and sit near a heater for a while. 🌬️