Alone Across the Atlantic, directed by and starring Yves Gélinas, was given to me as a gift by a friend of mine, Dan Wasserman, which felt especially appropriate considering the two of us spent nearly three months on a small boat together in 2006. From my first viewing, I immediately fell in love with the film, both for its accuracy in portraying life at sea and for its carefully paced editorial rhythm and poetically written narration. Since then, I have watched it numerous times, partly as a reflection on my own voyage and partly for the simple enjoyment of observing this quiet, determined man and his deeply personal perspective on undertaking such an immense task.
Jean du Sud is the name of the small sailboat that carries Gélinas around the world, and within the film she becomes more than a vessel. Written and framed as a central character, Jean emerges as the true hero of the journey, carrying a young Yves across oceans and through months of isolation. Over time, the two form a bond that may seem strange to anyone who has never experienced extended solo travel at sea, something akin to Tom Hanks and Wilson in Cast Away, yet it feels entirely accurate and earned.
The journey begins gently, drifting down the Atlantic in calm conditions where the pleasures of sailing feel almost effortless. Handmade bread, warm equatorial climates, and friendly conversations over shortwave radio with a contact in Nova Scotia make the idea of sailing the globe seem blissful and manageable. But the film never allows that illusion to last for long. Months into the voyage, contact with the outside world is lost. Depression, exhaustion, and a loss of focus set in. A broach leaves Jean dismasted and broken, forcing Gélinas to improvise a jerry rig and limp to shore, ending the trip prematurely.
Seemingly defeated, Yves returns home heartbroken. Yet the story does not conclude there. His connection to Jean proves stronger than the setback. Months later, he returns, rebuilds, repairs, and recommits to finishing what they started together. The film captures this return with quiet resolve, culminating in a successful completion of the voyage and a reaffirmation of purpose.
Watching this small, unassuming man in his sea-worn outfits, and at times no outfit at all, is both entertaining and unexpectedly enlightening. Moments like crafting and flying a homemade kite with a camera attached, offering a bird’s eye view of the boat and the vast ocean below, stand out as visual highlights. His loneliness during holidays spent away from his children feels deeply human. His descent into depression, breaking under the weight of the sea, and eventual recovery make the journey profoundly inspiring.
It is rare in life to experience a trip like this. But if you have, if you want to, or if you simply want to understand what it feels like to live inside such a commitment, Alone Across the Atlantic is a meaningful place to begin.
I hope you enjoy it. If you have seen it, or decide to watch it, write me. I would love to hear your thoughts.
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