El cerco

A calm Mediterranean Sea, one morning somewhere near Cadiz. In nostalgic sepia-coloured images, we see burly fishermen in plain wooden boats prepare themselves to haul in the nets. The water ripples, and a fisherman smokes a cigarette. In a flash, this pleasant scene metamorphoses into a rough battle between man and beast. Dozens of fishermen close in on a school of tuna, surrounding them with their boats. When the fishermen draw in the nets and force the tunas to the surface, the desperate splashing of the fish creates a curtain of water. Shouting with joy, the fishermen haul the giant fish into the boats one by one. The helpless flapping of tails on the deck is reminiscent of the rhythm of the flamenco. is a beautiful commentary on and timeless portrait of an age-old tradition, shot at the end of the 20 century.