REVIEW - In Need of Seawater (Directed by Richard Yeagley)

Following the success of his 2024 hit documentary Divisible, multi award-winning filmmaker Richard Yeagley (The Tradesmen, The Sunday Sessions, The Pause: A Brief Contemplation of Scott's Infertility, Fanatics: The Deep End, Making Mike, Portrait of an Artist) is back, directing a brand new documentary, In Need of Seawater - an artistic examination of the work of world-renowned and highly decorated poet and writer Mark Anthony Thomas (Folded Whispers).

Also with a strong background in the world of business and leadership, Thomas comfortably takes the helm here as writer and producer, and importantly, in presenting his incredible work. It is not often that we can hear the words of a poet directly from the horse's mouth, and yet here we are treated to precisely that, as Thomas brings his poems to life - word by word. But crucially, he doesn't just read his poems - he performs them - using his body language, facial expressions, and his tone of voice; and in doing so finds an immediate rapport with the room.

Reviewed by Cinemacy with high praise, affection and acclaim, the title of their write up (written by Morgan Rojas) in-part distils the essense of In Need of Seawater accurately into three words: "Poetry Comes Alive".

According the film's website "In Need of Seawater is a quietly powerful film that brings poetry off the page and into the room" - and it does exactly that.

Charismatic and eloquent, Thomas tells his story with humour and grace, punctuated with his own personal home videos, historical archive footage, and fresh material performanced by a small cast of talented actors in re-enactment/reconstruction type segments - which adds texture, helps keep the pacing tight, and adds helpful context to the poems.

The thought-provoking, vivid and emotionally evocative imagery conjures a sense of nostalgia, and comes entirely from a diverse catalogue of works penned by Thomas over two decades age when he was in his early 20s; later published as a collection titled 'The Poetic Repercussion', and covering subjects ranging from his childhood, adolescence, romance and family, to the AIDs epidemic, identity, civil rights, and his experiences of poverty.

It's not all intense and heavy though, and some of the poems are much more gentle in their subject matters, with such as a visit to the barbershop, a tribute to black women, and Thomas' own musings on his personal quest to find himself - his search for peace.

Here, director, Yeagley, internationally known for his talent and prowess as a documentary filmmaker, serves up a beautifully filmed, honest, accessible and well-assembled short which is not only easy to watch, but also enjoyable - and perhaps even therapeutic. He has done a fantastic job of capturing Thomas' connection and rapport with his audience, and the warmth of his performative and passionate readings, filmed live in front of an intimate audience in a cosy and fashionable apartment in Baltimore.

Touted as the first part in a trilogy of poetic documentaries, In Need of Seawater has served to whet my appetite for more from both Thomas, and Yeagley - and by showing his vulnerability, candidly laying bare his early work and in doing so, his early life, Thomas can do nothing other than endear himself to the audience - both those in the room with him in-person, and those watching at home, as he takes viewers with him on a personal journey, offering glimpses into his past, as he traces how and when he first started using language to create art.

Already scooping a tonne of positive reviews and awards on the film festival circuit, In Need of Seawater bares testimony to the excellent direction of Yeagley, and the relatability of Thomas' beautiful poems.

With a runtime of just over 26 minutes, this is not a demanding watch, and will have a broad appeal, but will be especially enjoyed by those with a love of poetry, art and culture, and of documentary, biographic and factual content.

Reviewed by MegaFlix Movie Awards.