Stay for the Silence

In my view, the best nature documentaries make you forget you are watching a film, and “The Quiet Coast” does exactly that.

The film follows the seabirds of a small Scottish island throughout a single year. It was filmed over fourteen months, and that patience shows in every scene. The camera work is highly impressive, particularly in the underwater shots, where the light is captured so carefully that the water seems to glow.

What I liked most was the contrast between the loud, crowded summer cliffs and the empty winter beaches. Obviously a lesser film would have filled the quiet parts with dramatic music. This one trusts the silence instead, and the silence is the best part.

I have only one comment in the way of criticism. The narrator talks too much. Meanwhile, the birds are doing something fascinating, and a voice keeps explaining what we can already see.

Still, that is a small problem. “The Quiet Coast” is on at the local cinema throughout the month, and I would highly recommend it. Go for the birds. Stay for the silence.