It is technically correct to say that “Holding Back the Tide” is about oysters. But that description might give the impression of a documentary of a more traditional nature, the sort of stunning footage narrated by a British man’s sonorous voice. I mean no slight to the films, which are often unconvincing. Also “Holding back the tide“ (At Firehouse theater in New York) is something completely different, and it’s wonderful.
The director, Emily Packer, faced an inherent challenge in making a film about oysters, which is that you can’t really see them doing anything, the way you can with a lion or a whale. They are stable. No facial expressions. They don’t make noise. But oysters are also incredibly important to our environment, Especially in regions like New York City, Where eroding shorelines pose a real threat not only to the natural world but also to the human inhabitants of the city. Oysters also help improve water quality. And, at least for some of us, they’re pretty tasty.
All these facts come to the fore in “Holding Back the Tide”. In interviews and a number of observational scenes, we meet people and organizations working to restore oyster populations in the New York region, including The Billion Oyster Projectwhich among other things Partners with top restaurants On shell collection and education. We know that without oysters, the city might not exist, at least not as we imagine it. We learn about historical figures and fascinating biological details. But factual documentary scenes are only one mode in which the film works.
That’s because packers see more in oysters than just a beach defender or a tasty snack. It is a literal animal and a rich symbol for thinking about culture. Oysters are ancient. They have seen a lot. Their history is intertwined with the history of race and labour; Their disappearance from some areas tells a story of pollution and environmental decay. And oysters can Change gender during their lifeMost begin as male and transition to female after the first year of life, giving them the ability to fertilize their own eggs.
Packer weaves it all into the film, casting actors who move dreamily, recite poetry and play roles that range from oyster shuckers to mythical spirits. A close, lush focus on the natural world or pearl shells gives these sections an almost tactile quality, as if you’re wading through water or tasting a salty oyster. The focus is on oysters as an embodiment of eccentricity as well as resilience, a model of change and the grand sweep of cosmic history. By the end, “Holding Back the Tide” feels both elegiac and prophetic, looking to both the past and the future to imagine the kinds of possibilities the oyster represents.
What I found most moving was a sentiment that often surfaces: Scientists explain that rebuilding oyster populations and thus reclaiming lost shorelines is arduous and slow. The impact is not easily seen in our lifetime. As with most good work, positive change cannot happen overnight. But, as one expert says, “You kind of have to believe that every little bit counts.”
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