This short feature is included in Kino's "The Movies Begin" set in the second volume. It is the only Birt Acres feature included in that volume, and I'm presuming all the others don't include any other films by the director. Besides the sea being rough in the film, the print condition is also. I can't guess why this was included in Kino's set because there isn't really much point to it. There are plenty other films showing stuff like this with rough seas. However, this was made in 1896 and back then it would have been well appreciated I'm sure. This short is 30 seconds or a bit more than that and it's interesting...while it lasts.

Usually, I'm too fond of nature documentaries, especially if they include animals, but this one just doesn't do anything for me. Of course the wild water is kinda intimidating, but even no more than 23 seconds, it's just not engaging enough to keep me interested from start to finish. I wish there would have been maybe at least one brave swimmer in there offering a welcome distraction. But nope. We also see the shore and I'm not entirely certain if there's people on it enjoying the view and the sound of the waves (which would have been a nice addition, too bad it wasn't invented yet). It's just too far away to say with certainty. Birt Acres has done better during his very prolific career from 1894 to 1900.

I watched this film on a DVD that was rammed with short films from the period. I didn't watch all of them as the main problem with these type of things that their value is more in their historical novelty value rather than entertainment. So to watch them you do need to be put in the correct context so that you can keep this in mind and not watch it with modern eyes. With the Primitives & Pioneers DVD collection though you get nothing to help you out, literally the films are played one after the other (the main menu option is "play all") for several hours. With this it is hard to understand their relevance and as an educational tool it falls down as it leaves the viewer to fend for themselves, which I'm sure is fine for some viewers but certainly not the majority. What it means is that the DVD saves you searching the web for the films individually by putting them all in one place – but that's about it.I will not even try and match the excellent review written for this film by user Cineanalyst. Although he/she doesn't actually review the film per se, he/she does do a great job of setting the historical context and giving the reader an understanding of what the reaction to this film was, something the DVD collection totally fails to do. And I'll say this, the film desperately needs context. I watched it after seeing many Lumière films and it made me appreciate them more because the photography here is terrible. I don't know if it is the effect of age or just the way it always was, but the photography is chaotic and grainy, really taking away from the impact of the footage. This was a problem for me and it was why I was grateful for the wider understanding because without it there is little else.

Okay, since the film was made all the way back in 1895 (when films were in their infancy), I'll cut the film some slack. After all, ALL the movies were dull and short pieces about the most mundane activities. And so, compared to contemporary pieces, it's not too bad. The subject matter--waves crashing--isn't too interesting, but the film has an artistic composition that make it rather like an Ansel Adams print come to life. Not great, certainly, but for 1895 not bad.If you LOVE this film, then be sure to watch THE ROUGH SEA (1900). It must be once of the cinema's first sequels! Yay!!! MORE Surf footage!!!!