The Reef Hunters

Muro Ami

(Review and Synopsis)

Synopsis

The movie is all about an autocratic captain, Fredo, who employs 150-200 child labourers to fish 300 baskets before Christmas comes. He tells the children to use the “muro ami” method which is done by scaring the fish into a net by producing a very loud noise through pounding some corals on the bottom of the sea. As the movie played, it is made known that Fredo has lost his wife and child in a boat accident, thus making him loathe the ocean. He thinks he could exact revenge by annihilating the corals and through his abusive way of fishing. From 300 baskets, he even raises his quota into 500 baskets. It is on that instance that things started turning against him. Even Dado, his father, and Botong, his close friend, grow exhausted of his harangue. Also, even his own body betrays him. Later in the story, Fredo had a change of heart. Despite this, the children still die because their young bodies had given up to their gruelling work.

Analysis

The movie is psychological because it has revealed the reason behind the lead actor’s acts. It was portrayed in the instance that it was made known to the audience that he was acting that way because it is his way of exacting revenge to the ocean for he blamed it for his lost of his wife and child. It also showed why some children, despite of being abused, are still willing to serve as laborers. It is the reality that because of poverty, they have no choice but follow what they had been ordered.

It could also be considered sociopolitical for it aroused social conscience and portrayed the reality that leaders, though not all, tend to be abusive of their power. Instead of being a servant leader, they become leaders to be served. They are executing commands which only them will benefit from the act. Moreover, they don’t consider their workers’ welfare. This was shown when child laborers were forced to sleep in rat-infested bunks and are fed only twice a day. They were also required to dive at least eight times a day to meet their quota of 500 baskets of fish, all of these, for Fredo’s own use and for his revenge which has nothing to do with the children.