By Ethan Savel ’14, Arts & Entertainment Section Editor

Alone at sea, 1,700 nautical miles from shore on the Indian Ocean, one man awakes aboard his yacht, the “Virginia Jean.” The boat is taking in water after being struck by a shipping container that has fallen from a freighter. He repairs the hole, but the salt water has damaged his equipment and he is sailing blind. All is Lost traces this man’s battle against the elements in a struggle for survival, and the end result is a tremendous, fresh piece of cinema.

All is Lost was written and directed by J.C. Chandor (Margin Call), from a script only thirty pages long. The script largely consists of prose describing one scene to the next, without any dialogue. As it turns out, the film, which features Robert Redford in the lead role, includes only a few lines of dialogue, such as, “help”, a few expletives, or a brief S.O.S. call.

Yes, the film is ambitious. It is also harrowing, uplifting, and truly encapsulates the essence of the human spirit in a way that never feels manipulative or staged. In today’s world of cinema, it is a monumental achievement that a film with this set of unique qualities was even produced — and it turned out superb.

Depending on the necessities for survival, rather than clichéd moments of flashback, All is Lost uses only the opening narration, a somber voiceover heard over a blank screen, to provide the audience with any clue as to the background of Redford’s character. The rest of the film is essentially about connecting with his resilience and determination to live.

Addressed as “Our Man,” Redford wears his 76 years with confidence, never giving the audience reason to believe his character won’t do anything and everything within his control to remain alive. In fact, upon noticing the puncture in his ship, he proceeds to fix the exterior with an incredibly calm attitude. It isn’t until over an hour into the film, after he has survived severe rainstorms, rolling waves sending him into the churning ocean, and other vicious challenges, that we finally see the slightest crack in his demeanor. It is this patience of character and plotting that turns the film into such a standout success.

After a first viewing, this film has some very apparent parallels to Life of Pi, the mandatory summer reading book for 9th graders and the 2012 Ang Lee film. Both are centered on men struggling to fight for survival amidst a wide ocean. There is a common theme of personal salvation and a tinge of religious purification. However, All is Lost acts as a more mature, less preachy Life of Pi, choosing to focus more on the physicality of the shipwreck and less on the character development.

Considering this is a nearly dialogue-free feature with only one actor, it is hard to fathom the quality of this film. It is an existential exercise that everyone can connect with, but it is still a thriller at its core. Just watching as Our Man has to manually pump water out of his boat, the viewer begins to feel his pain and connect with his struggle. Not only do you believe his plight, but you believe he can survive, as the terrifying situation weighs heavy on your heart.

Grade: A+