Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: JACK LONDON’S MARTIN EDEN [Nantucket Film Festival 2021 - Virtual]

Rising above one's station and seeing a greater goal is a dream within America that maybe has been soiled in recent years and yet still occupies a corner of many people's psyche. Back in the 1800s, this was a different idea where a certain purity of class, even among white people, was enforced in a veyr brutish way. "Jack London's Martin Eden" [Narrative Feature], an adaptation of a work by the frontier novelist is interesting in that its perspective could be autobiolgraphical in some sort. Eden, here played by Andrew Richardson, is a man of laborious work and bare knuckle who rises himself up to look at the people he wants to emulate. Is it a want to better himself or is it motivated by love of a pretty girl in Ruth (Hailey Griffith) who corrects his every word in the beginning of the film. The film, written and directed by Jay Craven (of Nantucket) was made in connection with many universities (most specifically Sarah Lawrence) is an interesting exercise on the notion of class, politics and creativity. Shot on Nantucket, it does have a feeling of setting but most of the film is done in medium shots (save for an opening along a beach). Martin is underestimated at the every point. And while part of his story is successful, much is not. He is more fortunate than others. His textures of socialism versus what he calls individualism is an interesting discussion (and one interestingly enough that still goes on today). Richardson plays Eden with a sense of knowingness and his actions are practical (if not at times coincidental) but the idea of success versus happiness eludes him. He seems of course more joyful when he has nothing: the notion of work versus fulfillment plays heavily on his mind. The film, in conclusion, is a dissertation on self and the journey of Martin Eden is one of perseverance while trying to retain a soul of what got him there. B

By Tim Wassberg