Fresh Barnacles

Set in a quiet seaside town, Fresh Barnacles follows Ula, a woman in her sixties whose carefully maintained routine begins to unravel as she reflects on a lifetime spent putting others before herself. Between caring for her husband, maintaining their home, and tending to the family boat, Ula starts questioning whether the life she's built was ever truly her own. Framed as a theatrical monologue interwoven with intimate moments from her daily life, the film explores identity, aging, and the courage it takes to reclaim your independence after years of quiet sacrifice.

Growing up in a seaside town myself, I immediately connected with Fresh Barnacles. I wanted the setting to feel like more than just a backdrop, it needed to have the same slow rhythm and familiarity from home. What I found most interesting was the symbolism of the boat throughout the film. On one hand, it represents responsibility: something Ula is constantly caring for but never truly gets to enjoy. At the same time, it becomes a symbol of freedom, the possibility of casting off and choosing a different life. That duality influenced a lot of the way I approached photographing the film, trying to make the location feel both comforting yet confining, hinting at the freedom that always seemed to be just beyond the horizon.