Provides insight into something I'm sure few truly consider

Cutter Hodierne's short film Fishing Without Nets backs in more contemplative themes and ideas than most feature-length films do with the time, resources, and capabilities they bear. Despite its short runtime working against it, this is a film about choices and hopelessness; hopelessness that is only alleviated, or at the very least briefly remedied by danger and deception from a vicious group of people that are doing wrong in an attempt to live right. This is the kind of material that begs a feature film, but, as all great ideas, it had to start somewhere.

The short focuses on a group of Somalian individuals, some relishing in their ability to be pirates and go out on treacherous waters every day in hopes to hijack a ship filled with goods, and others cruelly indecisive about whether or not to join the pirates and their missions. One character in the film has a bold realization, stating that the Somalian pirates have all the money in the country, and if one doesn't hop on board with their idea of violence and danger in the pursuit of a viable living, then they, in addition to their family, are stuck on the outskirts of all the wealth.

It's a tricky situation and Hodierne doesn't sugarcoat it, bouncing back between the perspective of the pirates and other Somalian civilians who have yet to make potentially the biggest and most impacting decision of their lives. Hodierne's tonal and perspective shifts, however, pose a jarring inconsistency in the short's focus, which only makes one realize that this is material ripe for a feature-length film (into which it was later developed in 2014). Its occasionally choppy and dodgy focus points only show that this is material that is already bursting at its confines with possibilities, and we get the feel that Hodierne cannot wait to finish shooting, editing, and distributing this to get started on the bigger opportunities.

However, for what we have to go off of, Fishing Without Nets is a crisply shot and nicely made short, suspenseful at times, eerily peaceful at others, and investing almost the entire way through. It's also a short that poses thoughtful points about a country that inspire negative or pessimistic thoughts from nearly anyone who hears the name of the land. Here's a short that, in an non-judgmental way, poses questions and gets audiences to actively think about something we probably don't put much thought to. In that respect, it caters to one of the most fundamental features of cinema.

Directed by: Cutter Hodierne.

The adventure genre features exciting journeys, quests, or expeditions undertaken by characters who often face challenges, obstacles, and risks in pursuit of a goal. Adventures can take place in a wide range of settings, from exotic and fantastical locations to historical or even everyday environments.

The crime genre features criminal activities, investigations, law enforcement, crimes, and the pursuit of justice. Crime stories often revolve around the planning, execution, and consequences of criminal acts, as well as the efforts to solve and prevent such acts. They explore various aspects of criminal behavior, motives, and the moral dilemmas faced by both perpetrators and those seeking to uphold the law.

James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

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The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

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Pirates in Somalia, from the perspective of the pirates.

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Cutter Hodierne in Fishing Without Nets (2012)

Fishing Without Nets

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