That this movie was a truly athletic event to make is obvious in every frame. Classic Maritimer personalities, a storyline that manages to be both authentic and meaningful at the same time, this is Canadian filmmaking at its best.You could watch The Disappeared just for the cinematography, which proves that skill and vision can trump technological bells and whistles if you insist. The supporting features describe how the director got her shots by using good old-fashioned human determination, rather than helicopters and CGI, and the results justify the effort. I come from seafaring people myself; this movie spoke to me.

I have made the following comment a few times: "This movie did not need to be made". Sweet almighty, that sentiment applies here. OK, I get the whole survivalist struggle. If this were some time in the 1940's, this might be new and innovative. I am watching this in 2014. It is, yet another dismal Canadian film. I am Canadian and I am so tired of our government doling out our tax dollars to make such movies.We have the same old 'man's fight to survive' cliché. Old fishermen (portrayed by terrible, unknown actors) cast away in life boats. Their struggle to battle hunger and madness. Yawn. It's been done, ad nausea. If my fellow Canadian countrymen can not come up with an original idea and some real funding, please stop spending millions in tax payer dollars to make movies that 127 people will see. We have starving children, homeless single Mothers, etc, yet my government keeps dishing out millions to amateur film makers to make poor knock offs of movies that have already been made.I think the few positive reviews I read on here were from cast members, crew, or family members. This is truly an awful movie and waste of film.

Wonderful film - the story was powerful and the characters were both rich and subtle - their back stories were explored enough that I was interested and became attached, but it didn't go into too much detail about any of them. This kept things in the here and now - which was a theme throughout.It was so nice to watch a film that didn't have a soundtrack! I really felt like I was on the water with the guys just hearing their voices, the ores and I think at one point, some whales. And I think music would have taken me out of that. I loved how there was so much silence. Silence is underused and I guess underrated as a cinematic tool, but a great decision was made here to let it carry the film throughout - as if it actually WAS the soundtrack. The silence was both beautiful and lonely. It must have been a challenge to make a film without music or special effects, having only a few characters and props - and still have it be engaging throughout. But it absolutely was.The film does a great job of creating a feeling of being lost and disoriented with time and space - just another way the film makes us feel like we're a part of this journey.On a purely entertainment level The Disappeared is a compelling survivalist story. But on a deeper level the film made me think about all the fishermen (and women?) who have become lost at sea. And to take it one step further there are unfortunate events and tragedies that happen all the time that we don't hear or think much about. And this film can get us thinking about those too.Highly recommended.

Absolutely wonderful movie.It's important not to go into it expecting flashy, fast-paced action like you see in a lot of oceanic survival movies. This movie exists to tell a story. The story of six men who represent every man lost at sea, fishing or not. Anyone who has any connection to the sea, whether it's through a family member, a friend or a childhood home needs to see this movie.It takes a certain kind of person to enjoy movies like this. It does not distract from the story with clear obstacles, high-budgeted effects or any unnecessary information. Despite that, it's far from lifeless. Shandi Mitchell captured a terrifying realism in her depictions of the open water and the characters surviving on top of it.The Disappeared takes you into a different head space, giving you plenty of time to pause and think. Like the characters, you are left reflecting on what is happening, and what that means for the future. The performances of the actors leave nothing left to be wanted, and Shawn Doyle took home the ACTRA award to prove it.Remove yourself from the space of Hollywood jumble. Let The Disappeared show you a real and awe-inspiring story that you can never forget.