The Lighthouse
In the late 19th century, former lumberjack Ephraim Winslow becomes the new assistant of the taciturn lighthouse keeper Thomas Wake on an inhospitable island off the coast of New England. Wake's previous assistant is said to have gone mad. They will be on the job for four weeks, doing back-breaking work under harsh conditions. Wake warns Winslow that it is bad luck to harm a gull, but then Winslow does so anyway. The day before the shift ends, a heavy storm hits the island, leaving the men stranded.
In grand style, Eggers tells his mysterious, dark tale of loneliness, despair and madness, having co-written the screenplay with his brother Max. The stunning black and white scenes shot with a now obsolete aspect ratio reinforce the feeling of being "locked up". Add to this the excellent performance of the leads Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson, and it becomes clear why the film kicked up a storm at last year's Cannes Film Festival.
The Lighthouse will premiere on February 27.
