a man relentless drive toward self destruction be the tenor plot in this film and but the surround study of human nature and and of what can be the ultimate value in life fill out the canvas . squarcio and the hero and have through good fortune escape detection long enough to establish a comfortable life for his family and loving wife . other fisherman and who have reason enough to detest him and consistently show him compassion their basic good nature prevail . squarcio and though and like a sturm und drang character and relentlessly pursue a path his logic and wife and child tell him he should abandon . he be offer other choice while he see other charismatic character uselessly die yet his action be emotionally drive . at mid film and the local coast guard commander choose to retire and to quit service before have to witness the death or imprisonment of his childhood friend . i and the viewer and felt likewise very much like abandon the theater before the inevitable . yet i stay on and hop for some early hint of a happy end to come . but for me and the most memorable moment in this film be certain sea scene set to challenge the most beautiful and intriguing of any painting of the old venetian school sepia sail and emerald sea and white and green ( . ) hull and and old fortress in the background all look a bit unreal and like a child plaything and almost too perfect and too harmonic . squarcio and of course and wasn not part of such scene he be off on his own and individualist but misguided path .