The world cinema knows many examples when the fate of fictional characters formed the basis of films. It happens that the fate of fictional people lies on the outline of real events. It may be interesting. But it also happens that the plot of the film is taken by a real story, which in itself is so unusual that it is not believed in its reality. One of these films tells about the fate of Richard Sharp and Tami Oldham.
main idea
In 1983, a story began in sunny Haiti, so vivid that it is hard to believe in its veracity. Arriving on the island, a girl, Tami Oldham, meets a guy in love with the sea. Prior to meeting her, the adventures of Richard Sharpe concerned only the sea, but now he begins to plan his way with a new acquaintance. A brave girl captivated him so much that he takes photos of the cabin of her favorite yacht with her photographs. The couple decides to hit the road. Here they have to face the main adventure in life.
The directing technique in the film is the shooting scheme: the actions take place as if in parallel - on a wrecked yacht and in an atmosphere of calm on the shore, before going to sea. The screenwriters were the Candella brothers, who particularly succeeded in maritime stories. Thinking of writing a story for the film related to the elements of the sea, they rummaged through many articles and books that talked about events worthy of cinema. So they met the story of Tami Oldham Ashcraft and Richard Sharpe. Work on the script of the film had to be interrupted for another project - the animated film "Moana", also related to the ocean theme.
Movie making
The script was written for five years. It was very important for the creators to make everything as accurate as possible. Including describe the nature of the characters. Tami herself said that she survived thanks to her beloved. What was he like?
Richard is by nature a collected, seasoned, real gentleman, ready to take responsibility for everything. An engineer by profession, he himself assembled his yacht. Tami girl is his opposite, and as you know, opposites attract. Lovers complement each other. A very revealing scene with a jump in a mountain lake. Adventurer Tami scoots headlong into the water. Not waiting for her to appear on the surface, Richard rushes after her. This plot already shows what measure of responsibility a man feels for a frivolous girl at first glance.
Richard Sharp
The creators of the film, which was released in Russian distribution under the name "In the Power of the Elements", considered Tami Oldham herself to be her main consultant. She was played by Shailene Woodley. The presence of the prototype, its attention, shooting, as close as possible to reality in weather conditions - all this made the film realistic. The location was chosen on the island of Fiji. The director considered it necessary to make a picture in such difficult conditions in order for the artists to feel the atmosphere of what happened. Sam Cloughlin, an English actor who played Richard Sharpe, very organically fit into the role. Tami said, “It's incredible how much he looks like Richard. He feels the same charisma that Richard had.”
Plot features
The non-linear narrative of the film takes the viewer into the raging ocean, then into the calm atmosphere of Tahiti.
Everything is quiet on the island. Nature is beautiful and serves as an excellent setting for the beautiful romantic stories of Tami Ashcraft and Richard Sharp. The tender relationship of lovers does not intertwine with the theme of sex, and from this it seems especially tender and touching. The scene of the sentence is especially remarkable when Richard presents a ring to the lady of the heart. The next time this ring is already on the hand, tired, torn in the storm Tami. From such alternations of frames of fairytale calm and a half-wrecked hurricane, a yacht becomes very sad.
Looking forward to the easy way
The couple is preparing for a trip that is easy at first glance - they just need to drive their friends' yachts along the way from Tahiti to San Francisco, nothing new. Richard has done this more than once. And indeed, I have been on sea trips more than once. In addition, his old dream is around the world. Therefore, he knew well how to prepare for the voyage, which should last 30 days. His beloved has also been at sea more than once, this is not a new sensation for her, but her beloved sense of freedom. Tami was first conquered by the chic interior of this yacht. Everything promised an easy sailing. Therefore, the preparation is easy and joyful. They set off on their journey, Tami Oldham Ashcraft and Richard Sharp. The hurricane that overtakes them is not a surprise to the viewer, because the film itself begins with frames of its destructive force and the broken Tami.
Drifting
That is the original name of the film. This word has several definitions. This deviation of the ship from the course and its movement with the help of wind and currents, as well as not resistance to external circumstances. The yacht fell into a drift after a hurricane. Half a way has already passed before the ship became a victim of a monstrous natural disaster. By its destructive power, Hurricane Reynolds belongs to class 4, it is also called huge, more than it is only catastrophic. The wind speed reaches 58-70 m / s (210-250), the wave height exceeds 4 meters and can reach 5.5 meters. Richard behaves in accordance with his character responsible for what is happening men. In addition, he is very worried about Tami, who strives to help him at least somehow. After sending the girl into the hold, Richard Sharp is trying to make the yacht obey. But here again the hurricane picks up the yacht with renewed vigor. From a strong blow, Sharpe flies off the side, and the girl falls in the hold, hitting her head.
After the storm
27 hours have passed. When Tomi came to her senses and was able to move, she was horrified to see an empty cable that was tied to Sharpe's belt. According to the heroine herself, it was the most difficult thing - to realize that there was no longer a loved one. Having been seriously injured, the girl tries to shout to Richard, it seems to her that she sees him on an inverted boat.
Then there are shots of how, having dragged Richard Sharpe onto a yacht, Tami, overcoming pain and difficulties, is trying to establish a way of life. Endless sailing begins at 41 days. Tami bears the greatest test of her life. After all, Richard was very badly injured, his leg and ribs were broken, we must take care of him. We have to repair the ship itself, set up the pump to pump out water from the hold, worry about the cleanliness of the screws and get supplies. A particular danger in such tests is the lack of fresh water. Tami used a tarpaulin, where she collected rainwater, in the mornings it was possible to collect dew drops there. You need to pave the way yourself. With a basic knowledge of navigation, Oldham was able, with the help of a sextant, to make the closest route to the islands.
Having discovered that canned food in the most economical situation is only enough for a week, Tami is forced to fish. The very thought of this action causes strong resistance in the girl. After all, she is a vegetarian and does not want to bring pain to anyone. But Richard is sick, his leg is broken, and Tami, picking up a harpoon, dives into the ocean. Burnt in the sun, with chapped lips, the girl tries to spend a lot of time near Richard, she talks with him all the time, his support gives her strength to resist circumstances, to do what she did not have before.
Tami oldham
One night, she saw a ship and tried her best to attract attention. Tami screamed, jumped, launched rockets, until the ship passed very close. Only then did the girl hear Richard's words - this is a hallucination. Tami falls into despair, it seems to her that she will never get out of the ocean. And only the voice of Richard, constantly repeating that she will cope, makes her get up and do something.
Heavy survival shots become heartbreaking towards the end of the film when the heroine, waking up from heavy oblivion, realizes that she is alone. Richard died at the beginning and all this time was her hallucination. It is difficult to transfer frames without tears when they show moments where, as it seems to her, she is bandaging a wounded lover, feeding him peanut butter, talking to him. But in reality there is emptiness. But not perfect, because even after many years the surviving heroine never tires of repeating that only thanks to the love of Richard Sharpe she survived that terrible voyage.
The rescue
41 days under the sun, having a limited supply of water and provisions, the girl stayed. Because she heard the words of her beloved that she must do something, she must pave the way, fish, eat, she must move in order to survive. And Tami did it. 40 days after the hurricane and the death of Richard, she saw the earth. By that time, the yacht was considered officially dead along with Richard and Tami. The girl was able to go through a lot, she was very thin, suffered a severe depression, but she was able to survive, having reached the coast of Haiti. Another example of tremendous fortitude was revealed to the world.