iffr: build a ship, sail to sadness
Another road movie and another poetic title at the Film Festival Rotterdam, with Laurin Federlein's debut film 'Build a Ship, Sail to Sadness'. It is perhaps best summed up as 'Breaking the Waves' meets Stephin Merritt.
In the desolate highlands of Scotland, Vincent (Magnus Aronson) has a dream of setting up a mobile disco. Riding around on his moped - and sniffing gasoline fumes - he tries to rally sceptical locals to his dream, insisting on their (projected) loneliness that needs alleviating.
The film contrasts bittersweet pop songs with a gritty hi-8 style of video noise and oversaturated colors to evoke Vincent's romantically warped vision. It's biggest charm is that in the clash between Don Quixotian naivety and cold harsh reality, both are equally persistent.