The fishermen of Bucks Harbor in Downeast Maine share vulnerable reflections on their harsh upbringing in this ode to lives lived on the margins.
Director: Pete Muller
Runtime: 98
Fest Year: 2026
“Sometimes it’s easier just to forget things than to deal with them,” fisherman David Cale says as he digs into the soft sand of the shoreline to forage for clams. Much like the tenacious lobster catch they are known for, the residents of Machias, Maine, are hearty and resilient. As the harsh gray chill of winter gives way to the bright blues of summer, generations of fishermen sustain themselves through fishing and hunting, raising the next generation to follow in their footsteps. Lobsters are toughest when their armor is hard, and most vulnerable when they are shedding it—and so it goes with the men harvesting them. Bucks Harbor is a meditative and immersive slice of life that examines the impact of long-held masculine traditions upon small-town culture and how they are reflected in those who live there. (MS)