We Once Were Tide is an exceptionally nuanced exploration of human emotions, focusing on themes of love, loss, identity, and the inevitability of change. The film's emotional depth is achieved not just through its narrative, but through the atmosphere, visual imagery, and symbolic use of the environment, particularly the sea, which becomes as much a character as the people in the story.
Narrative and Themes
At its core, We Once Were Tide is a story of departure and sacrifice, where the central characters, Anthony and Kyle, are forced to confront the limitations imposed by life’s difficult choices. The relationship between the two men is fraught with unspoken complexities: love, desire, guilt, and a longing for connection, all set against a backdrop of impending loss. Anthony’s mother’s terminal illness is the emotional anchor of the film, serving as both a literal and figurative barrier between him and the life he might want to lead.
In contrast, Kyle is in a position where his departure symbolizes the possibility of a life outside the confines of responsibility, grief, and the inevitable death of someone close to him. His leaving is not simply a physical act but a symbolic rupture in their shared lives, a rupture that questions the nature of connection itself. The film examines the tension between the desire for personal freedom (Kyle’s escape) and the need to care for others (Anthony’s sacrifice). The choice that Anthony faces—whether to prioritize his duty to his mother or his love for Kyle—is one that reflects the emotional and psychological toll caregiving can take, and the isolating effect it has on those who are left behind.
The film delves into the complexity of emotional self-awareness. Anthony’s attachment to Kyle runs deeper than just romantic love—it is the person who represents the life Anthony feels he can never fully live because of his obligations. However, there is also a quiet resentment and frustration. The film doesn’t portray Anthony as a saint or martyr; there is an undercurrent of anger at the unfairness of the situation, the sense that his life has been commandeered by the needs of others. He becomes a person caught between the weight of past decisions and the future that’s being thrust upon him, with little room to breathe.
The Sea as a Symbol
The sea, as a recurring motif, is central to understanding the film's emotional weight. The Isle of Wight itself, isolated by water, mirrors the isolation felt by the characters. The sea is both an inescapable boundary and a symbol of the passage of time. It acts as a boundary between Anthony and Kyle’s love and the external world, as well as a symbol of the greater emotional distance that is growing between them. It reflects the volatility of their emotions—calm and serene one moment, stormy and overwhelming the next.
Water in the film represents the cyclical nature of life. Just as the tide inevitably rises and falls, the relationship between Anthony and Kyle ebbs and flows, with moments of closeness followed by inevitable distance. The sea’s vastness and uncontrollable nature also echo the forces of fate and inevitability—emotions and events that cannot be avoided, no matter how much one might wish to. The waves crashing against the shore could be seen as an emotional metaphor for the turmoil within Anthony, the constant oscillation between the desire to hold on and the necessity of letting go.
In a more philosophical sense, the sea also represents the idea of time as a force both indifferent and relentless. The film subtly interrogates the notion of time: how it shapes our relationships, how it changes us, and how it compels us to make difficult decisions. The sea’s shifting tides are not dissimilar to the emotional tides the characters experience, where emotions and connections are never static—they rise and fall with the rhythm of life.
Characterization and Performance
The power of the film lies in the subtlety of its characters. Both Anthony and Kyle are complex, flawed, and multifaceted. The film never fully resolves the question of what they mean to each other, nor does it impose a clear moral stance on their actions. Instead, it lays bare the complexities of their desires and responsibilities.
Anthony’s internal conflict is at the heart of the film. His relationship with his mother—marked by love, guilt, and a sense of duty—shapes his decisions. His caring for her is both an act of love and a form of emotional imprisonment. It’s evident that Anthony wants to break free, but he’s tethered to his mother’s needs. The portrayal of his emotional exhaustion—both physical and mental—is palpable. We see Anthony struggle not only with his responsibilities but with the intense weight of unspoken emotions that Kyle’s departure stirs. His relationship with Kyle offers a fleeting escape, but it also reveals the fragility of their connection when confronted with the harsh realities of life.
Kyle, in contrast, is depicted as the figure of change, the one who can leave and start anew. His departure represents freedom, yet it also casts him in the light of a person who can abandon the responsibilities that Anthony is forced to carry. Kyle’s decision is not easy, and it becomes clear that he, too, is struggling with the weight of what he’s leaving behind. Kyle’s character is often depicted as the one who can leave because he does not have the same emotional burdens, but this also positions him as someone who is perhaps running away from his own fears of commitment and loss.
Cinematic Techniques and Aesthetic Choices
Jason Bradbury’s choice of minimalist storytelling enhances the film's emotional depth. The use of long takes, sparse dialogue, and an emphasis on the natural environment pulls the audience into the quiet emotional turmoil of the characters. The slow pacing creates an immersive atmosphere, allowing the viewer to sit with the characters in their moment of contemplation. Every gesture, every glance, every moment of silence carries weight. This is a film that asks the audience to read between the lines, to see not just what is said, but what is felt but never spoken.
The film's aesthetic choices—soft lighting, wide shots of the coastal landscape, and intimate close-ups of the characters—create a delicate balance between isolation and connection. The framing of the characters in these shots often reflects their emotional states. For instance, when the characters are shown alone in wide, open spaces, they appear small, overwhelmed by the vastness of the world around them, visually communicating their emotional vulnerability and isolation. These moments stand in stark contrast to the brief moments of closeness between them, which are portrayed with more intimate framing, emphasizing the warmth and tenderness of their bond.
Existential Underpinnings
On a deeper level, We Once Were Tide touches on existential themes of identity, purpose, and the fleeting nature of life. The film implicitly asks questions about the nature of human connection and what it means to truly live. Anthony and Kyle’s story is, in a sense, a meditation on what it means to have a meaningful existence in the face of loss, both personal and relational. It highlights the existential dilemma of living in a world that is constantly changing and forces us to adapt to loss—whether it’s the loss of a person, an opportunity, or the loss of an idealized future.
Anthony's predicament can be viewed as an allegory for the human condition itself: We are all confronted by the forces of time, loss, and change, and we must navigate the tension between our desires for personal fulfillment and the demands of responsibility. The film suggests that we can’t escape this tension, but we can make meaning out of it. The beauty of the film lies in its refusal to provide easy answers. It doesn't offer resolution, but rather leaves the audience to reflect on the moments of tenderness and sorrow, encouraging a deeper contemplation of love, identity, and the passage of time.
Conclusion
We Once Were Tide is an emotionally complex and artistically profound meditation on relationships, loss, and the passage of time. By weaving together a story of personal sacrifice, longing, and the inevitability of change, it leaves a lasting impression. The film is an exploration of how people cope with the forces that shape their lives, and how love, in its many forms, provides both solace and anguish in the face of these forces. The subtle use of the sea as a metaphor for emotional and existential tides, the delicate characterization, and the evocative cinematography combine to create a film that resonates long after it ends, inviting reflection on the ever-present tension between attachment and letting go.