Short Film

Shouting at the Sea is a short film set in the out-of-season coastal town of Hastings. The narrative unfolds as we follow Katherine (Maddie Rice) and Joe (Harry Michell) spending the day revisiting haunts of their youth - the rickety funicular lift, the vibrant amusement arcade, and the windswept pier - they share memories and reflect on the paths their lives have taken. Katherine appears outwardly successful yet internally conflicted. Joe has unfulfilled dreams and reflects on his late father’s life and ambitions.

The Sea (voiced by Daisy Haggard) is ever-present, its waves crashing against the shingle beach - narrating a tale of memory, belonging, and vulnerability - a reminder of the ebb and flow of life.

The narrative crescendos as Katherine and Joe share personal revelations and vulnerabilities, culminating in a cathartic moment on the beach where they confront their pasts and contemplate their futures. 

Shouting at the Sea explores themes of memory, connection, and the pursuit of self-acceptance, all set against the constant presence of the Sea - a metaphor for the forces, internal and external, that shape and reshape our lives.

Shouting at the Sea is a film made with love, drawing on the creativity and collaboration of the small team at Toffee Hammer. The goal was to create something above and beyond our work with clients, refresh our passion for fiction, and tell a story for its own sake. Together, we visited Hastings and shared memories of growing up in our respective seaside towns to create a screenplay that had meaning for each of us.