Anchored by a courageous lead performance, this emotionally complex debut chronicles a sexually liberated sailor’s voyage of self-discovery aboard an old freighter, where she fights for respect among the randy crew – including the handsome captain, with whom she shares a romantic past – while her faithful partner anxiously awaits her return. A metaphorical mermaid, Alice seems to become a different person at sea, toughening her skin to survive for weeks at a time as the lone female assigned to a vast cargo ship. Though women are too seldom allowed to be the proactive agents of desire in other movies, Alice doesn’t exist merely to excite male characters. We experience the movie through her eyes, juggling the temptations put before her, pining for the partner she left behind and dealing with the consequences of her actions. It’s a refreshing depiction set in a truly unique setting.