Atta (Ricky Adelayitar – “Bad Luck Joe”) has toiled all his life as a fisherman on the coast of Ghana. But now his reward is coming. The old boat chief (Fred Nil Amugi – “Beautiful Ruins”), under whom Atta has worked for decades, is about to resign. The new chief will be elected by the fishermen, and Atta has the votes. Friends at the village market even give him a new gown as befits a Boat Chief.
But when the day comes, the old Chief departs from the selection by vote and declares his son will follow him as Chief. Instead, Atta gets a handmade sign saying “Employee of the Month” and a large fish. Disgusted and embarrassed, he storms off.
On his way home, he hears a voice – a voice only he can hear. It’s the fish talking to him. Not only can this fish talk, it has a very smart mouth and speaks in slang and with modern references, including a romantic fascination with Beyonce. The fish has a special message for Atta, but will not give it up until Atta fulfills a number of the fish’s wishes – a reverse of the usual magical arrangement.
The next day several of Atta’s former fishermen and a young woman who wants to work with the fishermen but is denied because of “tradition”, show up at his house and suggest they go to Accra and get a bank loan to buy their own boat. And so they are off on an adventure, with the talking fish along.
This is a clever and amusing story – the old man who loves tradition pitted against unfair circumstances and supported by three young people who long for change and new opportunities.
Writer-director by Zoey Martinson (“The Wave”), in her feature directorial debut, has given us a heartwarming tale of the age-old conflict between tradition and progress. She worked as a humanitarian aid worker on refugee camps in West Africa, where Ghana (formerly Gold Coast) is located. And where “The Fisherman” was filmed. As a result, she clearly has a soft spot in her heart for these people.
The cinematography at the Ghanaian coast is spectacular, and the film of the marketplace really captures the beauty, variety, and activity of a traditional market. There is a real love for the people and place expressed here. Besides the beautiful cinematography, the soundtrack incorporates some traditional African themes and throughout is unobtrusive. Now, some of the story is predictable, and the comedy is sometimes slapstick, even corny, but running through it all is a humanity not found in a lot of films.
This is a film the whole family will enjoy.
Notes: This film is an elaboration of a short film Martinson made in 2018.
While the film is in English, and the soundtrack is clear, the strong accents of the players are difficult to understand at times.
Runtime: One hour, 48 minutes
Availability: After a long run at festivals, and a limited theatrical release, this film is available on Amazon Prime.
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