SCRAP VESSEL
Dir. Jason Byrne, 2009.
United States, Singapore, Bangladesh, India. 51 min.
In English, Mandarin, Bangla, and Hindi with English intertitles.

SCRAP VESSEL details the death and memories of a haunted Chinese coal freighter ship named Hupohai (formerly the Bulk Promotor during the start of its life in Norway) during its terminal passage from Singapore to the scrap yards of Bangladesh. Shot on 16mm that was rephotographed repeatedly to generate deep grainy contrasts, Byrne creates a fragmentary visual diary of his exploration of the near-derelict behemoth, where he and the crew uncover an archive of photographs, music tapes, and film reels left behind by Hupohai’s former residents. While the the trip to Chittagong may recall the conclusion to Peter Hutton’s 2007 AT SEA, Byrne shot SCRAP VESSEL three and half years prior and spent the subsequent years figuring out how to assemble its footage. The result is starkly unique in its sombre, gothic qualities, elevated by Albert Ortega’s ambient score.

Jason Byrne will be tele-present for a virtual Q&A following the 7:30pm screening on Sunday, January 19th.