Film & TV Database

DRAMA DOCUMENTARY. A human story of life in a French fishing village on the Ile d'Ouessant (Ushant) off the coast of Brittany. The main action takes place on the Ilot de Bannec, just off the main island. RL.1 Four men, including two young sailors, Ambrose and Jean-Marie, earn their living by gathering seaweed on the island of Bannec, and burning it for its chemical properties. Ambrose and Jean-Marie have a quarrel over a broken bottle of wine on which Ambrose cuts his thumb. They fight and afterwards pursue their different ways during work and at meals. Ambrose gets poison into his wound which disables his arm (892 ft). RL.2 The brothers continue their quarrel. Ambrose is unable to work and after a disagreement with one of the other men he takes to his bed. He has a delirious dream in which he attempts to leave the island by boat; the attempt is to much for him and he collapses on the beach; his colleagues meanwhile eat a meal and watch his efforts dispassionately. RL.3 The villagers on the mainland, including the mothers of Ambrose and Jean- Marie, are disturbed by the cessation of smoke from the burning seaweed and gather on the seashore to gaze across at the island across the rough seas. The village doctor views the island through a telescope from a lighthouse, and, equally disturbed, prepares to row across to the island (2813 ft). RL.4 Jean-Marie finds Ambrose helpless; he is filled with remorse and fran- tically carries him down to the beach, lowers him into a boat and makes for the mainland. The doctor in the meantime is being rowed across to the island. The mothers weep and watch. Jean-Marie battles against the waves, but his superhuman efforts are brought to a standstill by a rapidly descending fog. The reel closes with rapidly alternating shots of the approaching doctor and Jean-Marie. RL.5 Jean-Marie calls through the fog, but when all seems hopeless his call is heard by the doctor who is then able to lance the poisoned arm. Meanwhile, the mothers vigil continues through the night. At dawn, the returning boat is sighted and Ambrose is carried ashore. His mother faints. Jean-Marie embraces his mother. Ambrose is undressed and put to bed and the doctor attends to his wound. He is called away to another case, and the two boys renew their friend- ship (4465 ft).

Set amongst the kelp-gatherers working on Bannec island west of Ouessant. On the island two young men, Ambroise and Jean-Marie, have an argument over a broken bottle of wine and a missing knife. Ambroise falls ill through an when a cut on his hand caused by a piece of broken glass becomes infected. His colleages just think he is being lazy when he stops working and they ignore him. However, when Jean-Marie finds his missing knife and goes to see Ambroise he realises that he is seriously ill. They set out in a boat heading for Ouessant. Meanwhile, the Ouessant lighthouse keeper has noticed the lack of activity on the island and a boat with a doctor on board sets out. In spite of a fog, the two boats meet and Ambroise is treated successfully. Supposedly based on a true story and acted by locals from Ouessant and the islands and the crews of the "Pampero" and the "Hermine".