The Sea in Their Blood

🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿

🎙️ EPISODE 411: 03.01.22 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟏𝟎-𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 RANKING GREENAWAY 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 Also known as The Coastline, this 1983 short is technically the last film chronologically I'll be examining, but it is the completion of a project started in the mid 1970s. This is, very simply, a beautiful collection of shots of the British coast featuring a narration of statistics about tide measurement, wave volume, photography, edible seaweed and mollusks, ocean temperatures, the bird-watching economy, swan meat, underwater cities, boat ownership, the distance of ferryboat routes, seawater defense, rising sea levels, lighthouse history, lighthouse light intensity, lighthouse foghorn blast regularity, fishing, feminine boat names, seafood cooking techniques, bait, pier length, beach bathing habits, souvenirs, river and canal sources, ocean depths, tourism, eggs, and port cities; The Sea in Their Blood tows the line between art film and documentary, with clear fabrications abutting what appear to be sound facts. Of course, the facts don't matter; only the act of recitation, listing and categorization. This also features a lovely soundtrack from Michael Nyman, whose music is utilized in most of these short films ... I will expand upon his VERY important role and connection to Greenaway's success in later volumes.

CHRONOLOGICALLY
⫷ EPISODE 411F - (YOU ARE HERE) - EPISODE 411H ⫸

---

A short film by Peter Greenaway, The Sea in Their Blood is also known as The Coastline, and exhibited at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, as Beside the Sea. It is a mockumentary or "artificial documentary", featuring images of the British seaside and voiceovers of endless unsubstantiated statistics. For example: "Most fish is eaten in Britain fried in batter and breadcrumbs. 10 percent is boiled, 5 percent grilled, 3 percent is steamed. Very little is eaten raw except by cats and in Japanese restaurants, 29 in London and 1 in Milton Keynes." It was released on January 1, 1983.