The Fisherman (2018)
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Quirky, poignant short about aging and relevance.
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The Fisherman (2018)
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What's the Story?
THE FISHERMAN is a Ghanaian comedy short about the human need to stay relevant as we get older. Ataa Oko (Emmanuel France) is an aging fisherman who goes out to sea every morning with the rest of the local piscators. It's grueling work, and the younger, stronger men around him dismiss him as a old man who is unable to keep up. But when he returns one day with a talking fish (voiced by Dulo Harris), Ataa finds himself wondering why he was chosen to hear him, and the message it wants to share.
Is It Any Good?
This offbeat West African movie short delivers a universally relatable narrative about what it means to get older, and how invisible one can be made to feel when it happens. But writer and director Zoey Martinson is able to successfully tell Ataa Oko's story with poignancy and humor while subtly highlighting how colonialism continues to impact the country, and the ways global warming and globalization is slowly changing its coastal fishing culture. As a result, The Fisherman is a smart and poignant tale that is both thoughtful and entertaining.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the way media from different countries and cultures represent the elderly. Are they respected? Are they subject to ridicule? How do these representation influence the way people think about them in real life?
Why are people often treated as if they are irrelevant or invisible as they get older? What are some of the different ways The Fisherman addresses this?
Movie Details
- In theaters: February 10, 2018
- On DVD or streaming: February 7, 2020
- Cast: Emmanuel France , Dulo Harris , Elizabeth Nortey
- Director: Zoey Martinson
- Inclusion Information: Female directors
- Studio: Smoke & Mirrors Collaborative
- Genre: Comedy
- Character Strengths: Humility , Perseverance
- Run time: 14 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- Last updated: May 12, 2022
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