Raging Waves, A Silent Horizon—The Vast Ocean is Also a Spectacle

Turning Tide: The Hope of the Sea tells the story of a man who competed in the Vendée Globe, the most grueling and prestigious quadrennial round-the-world yacht race, and his voyage and emotional journey with a boy he met in the middle of the ocean. This drama of friendship between a yachtsman and a boy, set against a backdrop of magnificent nature, arrives from France.

StarringThe IntouchablesFrançois Cluzet, a leading French actor who won Best Actor at the Tokyo International Film Festival for his role as a wealthy aristocrat paralyzed from the neck down in The Intouchables, delivers a powerful performance as a man who bets his life on a race, carrying the expectations of his family and colleagues. The cast also includes young actor Sami Seghir as the boy who sneaks onto the yacht, and Guillaume Canet, who also works as a director.

The film is directed by Christophe Offenstein, who served as director of photography on many films, including all of Guillaume Canet's directorial works, making his directorial debut. Using yachts actually used in the 2012 Vendée Globe, the filming was conducted over 43 days on the sea, enduring waves up to six meters high, mirroring the actual race. The result is a breathtaking sense of realism and a profound story, capturing both the threat of the raging ocean and the awe-inspiring silence of the horizon.

The Boy Yan, Who Stowed Away with a Burning Desire

Yan, who entered the Vendée Globe carrying the expectations of his family and colleagues, made a strong start, taking the lead by the fifth day despite it being his first race. However, he had to stop off the Canary Islands to repair a damaged daggerboard, losing two days before rejoining the race.

Amidst this, an incident occurs that should not happen in the middle of the ocean: an unknown boy is found hiding on the yacht, where no one should be. In a race where solo, non-stop sailing is the rule, carrying him would mean disqualification. Yan is angered and unleashes his emotions on the vast sea.

Yan tries to leave the boy on a nearby island before the race headquarters finds out, but the boy, Mano, desperately wants to reach France and stubbornly refuses to leave the yacht. Learning this, Yan finds his own answer and pushes forward on a voyage that carries their mutual hopes.

A man who stakes his life on a race, and a boy who stows away on a yacht, entrusting his dreams to France. When these two, who were never meant to meet, encounter each other, their emotional journey begins.

Turning Tide: The Hope of the Sea
Opens Saturday, May 31st, at Shinjuku Cinema Qualité and other theaters nationwide.
Director & Screenplay | Christophe Offenstein
Starring | François Cluzet, Sami Seghir, Guillaume Canet, Virginie Efira, Karine Vanasse
Distribution | MIDSHIP
2013 / France / 101 min
http://turning-tide.com

©2013 GAUMONT - LES FILMS DU CAP - TF1 FILMS PRODUCTIONS - SCOPE PICTURES - A CONTRACORRIENTE FILMS