The Weight of Water

The core events unfold in 1873, with a remote island setting and a brutal murder shaping the historical portion. A contemporary frame follows as a photographer investigates the case, weaving archival papers into the narrative. The story also glimpses into an 18th-century epilogue, where guilt and confession play out beyond the jury's verdict.

Smuttynose Island sits off the New Hampshire coast as a wind-swept, remote outpost. The Isles of Shoals create a harsh maritime backdrop that shapes both the 1873 murders and the present-day investigation. The island’s isolation amplifies tension, making dwelling spaces feel claustrophobic and accusations volatile.

🌊 Isolation

The remote island setting creates a sense of confinement and danger that drives the plot. Storm-lashed coasts, limited contact with the outside world, and a closed domestic circle heighten suspicion and fear. The environment amplifies personal conflicts and the brutality of the murders. Both past and present frames are tethered to this isolating geography.

💔 Desire

Hidden longings and competing affections among Maren, Anethe, and Karen feed jealousy and tension. The narrative foregrounds bisexual longing and the pressure of social norms, complicating relationships. Desire becomes a catalyst for conflict and violence, shaping how characters are judged. The modern frame occasionally mirrors these themes in present-day attraction and rivalry.

⚖️ Guilt & Justice

Maren’s guilt haunts her actions long after the murders and the male killer’s execution. The film contrasts personal remorse with the rigid outcomes of historical and modern justice, raising questions about truth beyond the courtroom. The ending shows a confession that the courts refuse to accept, underscoring the gap between moral truth and legal verdicts.

🔎 Memory & Truth

Archival papers and testimonies frame the present investigation, creating a mosaic of perspectives. The reliability of memory is tested as the past is reconstructed through documents and surreal underwater visions. The boundary between fiction and fact blurs as the photographer sieves truth from memory.