Written and directed by Andrew Walsh, this independent film from Australia has more to admire in its construction that its execution as young Eleanor (Olivia Fildes) lurches from one bad decision to another during the eighty-minute runtime.
A promising initial premise set in a grimy rental with a seedy landlord gives way to a series of seemingly unconnected scenes where Eleanor finds herself in poor company, fails to hold on to a job, and struggles to connect with how the world works.
This may have worked better as a shorter film, with a focus on a couple of characters and a stronger theme. Why is Eleanor the way she is? Why does she do what she does? Why is she so desperate to self-sabotage every waking moment, and why doesn’t she stop and take stock?
The location filming is good, with Scott David Lister’s accomplished cinematography utilising a mix of shots, while Walsh can capture a variety of moods and is particularly strong with the small stuff involving just a couple of characters. That’s what I wanted to see more of.
Where this doesn’t ring true is in the depiction of a person with addiction and how they might function in the world. A high-functioning addict would most likely manage well for as long as possible; someone on the brink would be far less groomed and articulate.
There are moments in Walsh’s writing that capture the boredom of a service job, and we have certainly all met landlords who cover their sleazy intentions. The relationship between Eleanor and the wrong man for her is well-detailed.
Sadly, despite finding moments I liked in this improvisational feature, I couldn’t find a connection with Eleanor to make me care for or root for her, and that, for me, is How Deep Is The Ocean‘s biggest flaw.
How Deep Is The Ocean is now available to watch on Amazon Prime.
**.5