Yemaya Recommends/Film: Against the Tide: One Tale, Two Versions

By Indu MG (indumg@yahoo.com), Independent Researcher based in Mumbai, India

Direction: Sarvnik Kaur | Duration: 97 mins | Language: English subtitles

The documentary Against the Tide explores the intertwined lives of two fishermen, illustrating how climate change and globalized corporate greed impact their contrasting fishing practices. The film follows Rakesh and Ganesh, two friends from Mumbai’s traditional Koli fishing community, one of the city’s few original inhabitants.

Rakesh adheres to ancestral, sustainable fishing practices but struggles to provide a decent life for his family. In contrast, Ganesh thrives by employing modern deep-sea fishing techniques, using large vessels and employing a sizable crew. Despite Ganesh’s encouragement for Rakesh to transition from shallow-water subsistence fishing to deep-sea operations, Rakesh remains steadfast in his traditional approach.

The camera captures candid moments between the friends, revealing the economic and social divide between them. Despite their differing lifestyles and methods, both men face the harsh realities of dwindling fish stocks, driven by climate change and human exploitation. As the film progresses, it becomes clear that both are at the mercy of the same depleted sea. Rakesh is eventually forced to sell his boat, while Ganesh grapples with mounting debts to sustain his increasingly unviable operations.

Although Rakesh’s mother provides some perspective, the film lacks vocal contributions from other women, which could have added depth to its themes. Women are primarily portrayed as custodians of traditions, preserving rituals, songs, dances, and social bonds. Additionally, at times, the personal narratives and interpersonal drama between the two friends overshadow the core environmental and economic issues the documentary seeks to address.

Against the Tide is a highly engaging film, marked by commendable direction, cinematography, and editing. It delivers powerful messages about overfishing, climate change, and the threats to sustainable traditional occupations in the face of globalized economic activities across the oceans.