Harbor

Jay Scott, a pensive man, and his father Henry, reside on an old, decaying fishing boat, in a desolate harbor.

With the clock ticking down to a mesmerizing bioluminescent phenomenon off the coast, an imploring voicemail from Henry reveals that they must renovate the boat in time to witness the spectacle. While Jay is opening his mail, he comes across a notice that compels him to pay a visit to the harbor office. The harbor operator informs him that a previous debt on the boat, which had been registered under his estranged sister Grace, must now be paid or else he risks losing the boat.

Jay attempts to cope with the mounting pressure and endeavors to repair the boat himself. However, after his attempts fail and he sees how desperately his father wishes to witness the bioluminescent display, he realizes he must reconnect with his sister, and reaches out to her.

As the siblings reunite, long-held secrets are brought to light, revealing that Jay and Grace had grown apart due to an unknown and heartbreaking incident in which Jay had abandoned her. Consequently, Grace does not feel inclined to assist him at present. She can’t comprehend why the boat holds such significance for him, and she demands an explanation. However, when he fails to summon the courage to articulate his reasoning, she rejects his request to pay for the debt. In the end, Jay plays the voicemail message from the beginning once again, and it deeply resonates with Grace. At this moment, we come to understand that Jay’s father has been deceased for some time, and we finally discover the root of Jay’s remorse: the voicemail he received from his father, which was the final chance he had to see and spend time with him. He explains to Grace that he cannot give up because the guilt is consuming him, and he must follow through until the end.

Jay returns to the boat and faces a critical situation. He learns about an approaching storm that will soon wash away the bioluminescence, compelling him to make a final desperate effort to repair the boat. Grace becomes burdened with a sense of guilt, and she heads to the harbor office to pay the outstanding debt.

Through sheer determination, Jay finally gets the boat running, and experiences a transcendent moment with his late father, but just as he’s about to set sail, his sister appears at the docks. Finally, the two of them unite to fulfill their father’s last wish, by taking the boat out to sea to experience the enchanting natural phenomenon of bioluminescence.

Directed by Keegan Duncan (USA)