Finis Terræ (1929): Masters of Cinema

Co-director of South West Silents James Harrison explores Euerka's The Masters of Cinema Series new Blu-ray release of Finis Terræ (1929) plus a chance to win a copy!

In the press release for Jean Epstein’s Finis Terræ (1929), Eureka’s Masters of Cinema team mention that the film is very much the forerunner for Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse (2019) and Mark Jenkin’s Bait (2019).

Totally by chance, it was back in early 2020 that we screened this 4K restoration of Epstein’s film in reaction to the release of Jenkin’s film at Watershed, Bristol. In fact, the producers of Bait (based in Bristol) were in the audience that very day and were mesmerised by the silent film.

And when you sit down and watch Epstein’s film, you can see how such a film, made 90 years before, can be connected to both Eggers’ and Jenkin’s films. Finis Terræ is quite original, in look, in style, in everything. It is a masterpiece of the highest order of cinematic achievement. It is a film that you could only wish to reach out and touch.

The story is incredibly simple, four Breton fishermen set off on a hazardous three month expedition to the islet of Bannec; but not everything is as it seems as the four begin to argue amongst each other. As the hostilities escalate so do the conditions at sea, making it impossible for the men to return to the mainland.

There are two important ingredients found within Finis Terræ which are key to Epstein’s overall relist style. The first key aspect is the incredible selection of people who we see play out the story in front of us. While none of them were professional actors, Epstein is able to bring out incredible performances in all that appear. Just like any actor who starred in any Carl Theodor Dreyer film; the people have the looks and faces of a time and place now gone.

The second important feature is the backdrop and landscape of the location filming.

Britany is a place of beauty and danger. It has a haunting landscape, very much like the Cornwall which is rough and ragged. It is area of France which is exposed to the power of the Atlantic Ocean with windswept pebbled beaches and highly dangerous cliff faces.

Britany is a place that should be used far more as a backdrop; with stunning films such as La Divine Croisière (1929), La Femme du Bout du Monde (1938), L'amour d'une Femme (1953) as well as Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) as calling cards; filmmakers really should turn their attention to this great area of France.

The Masters of Cinema release comes with a great selection of extras including a perfect 17min introduction by writer and historian Pamela Hutchinson, a 20min video essay by writer Eddie Falvey and a 11 minute piece about Jean Epstein by Cinémathèque Française’s Joël Daire. Bizarrely, there is no mention in any of the press notes which soundtrack accompanies the film; we can confirm however that the film comes with an original score by Roch Havet. A score which very much works alongside with the film, although, it does feel that the score discounts with the film on the odd occasion.

As mentioned before, Finis Terræ is a masterpiece, and this release by Masters of Cinema of this stunning 4K restoration Gaumont is a clear example why it should be classed as so. The film is a symphony of images; and as Bryony Dixon states in 100 Silent Films “it’s the nearest thing to music I know of in silent film”.

Finis Terræ is title number #323 in Eureka's The Masters of Cinema series and is available via the label's website.

Thanks to The Masters of Cinema's team we have a brand new copy of Finis Terræ up for grabs; just send us your answer to the question below via our contact page by mid-night on Sunday 10th August to be in with a chance. Good Luck!

Question: Jean Epstein adapted which Edgar Allan Poe story into a 1928 film?