The Sailor (I) (2021) User Reviews

Pretty good-*spoiler alert

[jess-96309 · 7/10 · 31 August 2022]

The Sailor has a good story to tell, the filmmakers kept it pretty light, and did not really get into the heavy stuff. I think they could have made a series of this documentary, because he did so much in his life. The documentary style is "fly on the wall" with not really any interviews, they just follow him around and film him and listen to him tell stories. I don't know how this could be an inspiring film on sailing, it is full of regret and alcoholism. I can't stand sailboats myself, I have gotten sick every time I went on one. I do think it is interesting that Paul did all that sailing, and finding deserted islands and basically living the dream, no responsibility and just pick up and go, but it looks like it took a toll on him, and he has a lot of regret about his life. He says life is just a joke and it's only for fun, and that is how he lived, I think that it is very sad, how he was basically stuck in that gross sailboat drinking booze all day, that is a nightmare scenario, and he could not even afford to fix the boat motor at the end, so he sails off with no motor for safety, he probably died out there on that voyage.

Poignantly beautiful

[chesbaydelta · 10/10 · 12 August 2022]

As an 80 year old sailor who yearns for the sea and a stiff wind and who still looks at boats-for-sale, this beautifully filmed documentary made me wistful. I, too, am pushing off for my last voyage...DAMN IT. Really good film, but watch it before you are 50 so you can buy a boat and sail...if only on weekends.

Superbly filmed and says so much about the human condition

[markadams650 · 10/10 · 6 July 2023]

This documentary film deserves more than one award in my mind. There's so much more to this film than just following "The Sailor" Paul in his day to day life. The filming introduces visual metaphors by the bucket load and combined with Paul's dialogue makes this a wonderful study on what it is to be human albeit from a the perspective of a hedonistic free spirit who now realises there is a price to pay . There is also a wonderful display of humanity shown by the interaction with the locals who obviously care for Paul and support him as if he was part of their own family and yet not expecting anything for their efforts. A superb cinematic observation on being human, and not a lot about being a sailor. Congratulations to all who put this masterpiece together.