The Old Man and the Sea: A Painting of Humanity Come to Life

By Grace Anderson

The Old Man and the Sea is a short film based on the last major work of fiction written by Ernest
Hemingway in his lifetime. The film, directed by Aleksandr Petrov, tells the story of an old
fisherman and his two-day battle capturing a huge marlin after a long dry spell of not catching
any fish. The novella was a massive success for the author, as it won the 1954 Nobel Peace
prize for literature. Russian-born Petrov and his son created each fluid shot by hand painting
over 30,000 frames of glass with slow-drying oil paint, taking an exhaustive two years to
complete the final product. The film won the Best Short Animation Oscar and was nominated for
a BAFTA in 2000.
The film launches you into the world with a minute-long opening scene of vibrant colours,
flowing through ethereal images of the billowing ocean, a Cuban island, and wild animals
running through the screen, almost as if they’d appear right next to you, continuing their quest
onward. The viewer is then introduced to Manolin, a young boy fondly taking care of his mentor,
Santiago, an old but wise man who is struggling to fulfil his duties as a fisherman. Santiago’s
growing determination to break his unlucky spell is expressed through the painted image of his
face growing weary yet undaunted as he looks at the Atlantic ocean, preparing to go far out into
the sea to test his fortune. Santiago and Manolin’s close relationship is introduced through a
conversation about Manolin training with his older guide during a breathtaking scene of the early
morning trek to the water, lit up only by the lanterns of the fellow fisherman and the stars.
Santiago’s journey begins as the pastel sunrise and splashing water of his oars flow across the
screen, letting the viewer as well as the old man be completely absorbed into the peace of the
sea. The squawking seagulls, the fast moving school of fish not far underneath, and the growing
ripple in the water from the beast that Santiago sets his eyes on remind us of the beautiful world
that resides below the water. We are now introduced to the Marlin, the massive sea-creature
that Santiago has decided will be his re-emergence as a fisherman, thus beginning the epic
battle between the two.
Santiago’s relationship with the Marlin represents more than just man and beast, as
Hemingway's story is designed to let viewers understand humanity, the unstoppable force of
age, and finding purpose in life. As the fisherman tells stories of his once great achievements,
he comes to understand that this may be his last chance to prove to himself that he has lived a
meaningful existence. He shows respect for the underwater creature, but knows that he must
defeat it in order to win. “But man is not made for defeat," he said. "A man can be destroyed but
not defeated.”
As this is Hemingway’s last major work before his death, his own internal battle of finding
meaning in his time on earth may be reflected in the romantically illustrated images of Petrov’s
film.
The film ends with a parallel to the beginning- the young boy, Manolin, taking care of the tired,
defeated man. The question could be raised by the viewers in the end, isn't that life itself?
Accomplishing meaningful achievements, chasing after that for as long as you may live, and
then ultimately having to let go and pass on the wisdom to a new generation.