Finis Terrae

Epstein is known for his capacity to portray subtle Impressionist landscapes reflecting the mental state of his characters. In this silent film he also manages to sketch sensitively the coastal landscape of Bretagne and the life of the sea fishermen. In his time Epstein was an important writer about and theoretician of cinema and he put his ideas into practice in unusual and experimental films. Finis Terrae dates from his avant-garde period and is an early example of a film that tries to link narrative and documentary. The film was a major influence on the development of a more lyrical documentary style for a long time.