Matthew John Harrison introduces his new documentary — which spends time with the oystermen of Mersea Island, Essex, and explores the ancient oyster culture of the city of Colchester.
The oyster is an ancient creature of deep time that has existed long before us and will continue to exist long after we’re gone. The oyster farmers of Mersea Island, Essex have been around for a while too. It’s as if they’ve always been working the waters of the Blackwater estuary. They are as native to this river as the curlews that haunt the creeks. Around here there’s an old relationship which began far in the past, intimately connecting the oyster and the oyster farmer across time. One simply cannot survive without the other.
For the past two years, I have been independently producing a film about this world. I’ve felt sincerely touched by the timeless simplicity and dedicated continuation of an ancient way of life. Towards the end of the process, I couldn’t help but realise that I’d made a film about the fundamental struggle of survival. It was always important for me not to romanticise the life of the oystermen, for the north sea wind, the ice cold rain, the gruelling dredging and the fear of a bleak future are all daily struggles for the Mersea Island oysterman.
Similar to how an oyster soaks up all the flavour from the estuary where it grows, I wanted my film to feel like the place it was filmed in. My Granny lives on the Island, my Mother was raised on ‘Mersea Mud’ and I’ve been drawn to the Island since I was a child. There’s something about the place, an enigmatic atmosphere which I wanted to articulate through making this film.
Oyster Land spends time with the oystermen of Mersea Island, Essex and also explores the ancient civic oyster ceremonies of the city of Colchester. The film is a flowing journey of working on the waters of an estuary that has sustained a local trade for thousands of years.
Watch the trailer for Eudo Films’ ‘Oyster Land’ below. The film will be screened on Mersea Island, at Mersea Island Museum on 29th November at 7.30pm. Tickets are £5 on the door.