For a Pole (he was born in Warsaw) Jean Epstein made some quite tasty French films, many Silent - he began in 1922 - not least The Fall Of The House of Usher. He also made a trilogy about Brittany, that Department of France in the North Eastern sector. With the sea on two sides life can be harsh and Epstein shows us just how harsh in what amounts to a semi-documentary ostensibly about four men - two two-man teams) who spend their days collecting sea week (it takes all kinds). One of them cuts his thumb and leaves it untreated. Bad move. It starts to fester and this is when the film broadens out to portray the community and the community spirit. It moves at a pace that a sloth could only aspire to yet Epstein fills his frame with vivid images, often stark. It's not going to trouble the Matrix generation but I'm glad I saw it.

Lately this Germanic Count has been exposing in a public and notorious manner his preference for the more avant-garde silent movements; a daring, experimental and innovative era where the silent pioneers showed how to play with the cinematograph's enormous possibilities.

One of the most outstanding directors of that movement (and French by the way),was Herr Jean Epstein, even though in this occasion, the film that this Count is willing to talk about it is not included inside Epstein's avant-garde and fruitful period. Though it is far from a classic film, "Finis Terrae" demonstrates that Epstein's innovative character always showed in his films, especially during his silent phase.

In "Finis Terrae", Herr Epstein forsakes the avant-garde and chooses a more realistic cinema. The film is a kind of documentary set in French Brittany and part of a trilogy (completed by "Mor Vran" (1931) and "L'Or Der Mers" (1932)) dedicated to that French coastal region for which the director had a special predilection.

Though the film belongs in the documentary genre, Herr Epstein is more interested in the experimentation he can do. He dramatizes the story in a way consistent with his artistic purposes but does not forget to reflect in it the area, the people and customs with their special characteristics. However, the movie lacks the evident ethnologic importance of Herr Flaherty or Herr Grierson's films.

"Finis Terrae" is more lyrical, a visual poem to experiment with. The simple story: four algae collectors are trapped on an island and at a later time are rescued by their neighbors. This very interesting film has a rhythm in its narrative and it's lit in harsh natural way which perfectly reflects the artistic intentions of the French director.

And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this Germanic Count has to clarify an existential doubt: To whit, which one is the Great or Small Britain?