a with so many modern u film and there have to be a supernatural element to the plot and but if you just let that go and this be a tale with heap of charm and a kindly heart case in a crab shell . we be present with a scene of a town in an economically depressed area struggle to find anything to be happy about . beau bridge character be really up against it with a family on the increase and a nil bank balance and a brother in law who sell out to a big business chain which he secretly hat and but in which he be willing to rub beau nose . donofrio find his rather surface bubba lifestyle cramp by have to look after his blessed baby brother and joey and and be itch to escape the shackle of this dead hick town . their bos business be close down ( much against his will ) because of a lack of new customer and he be haunt by memory of his father a he build up the tension towards his own attempt at self destruction . joey and who have seem to personify the curse on their life and be lose at sea believe drown in a freak accident . his miraculous restoration to them by the portuguese trawlermen whose boat they have just build and launch ( perhaps symbolic of an angelic crew ) and be the sign they have be wait for and they all decide to give life one last throw of the dice . there be a beautiful brooding mood throughout this work which excel in hold our attention as brilliantly a the shipping news . there be other parallel with the late work and too and which lead one to suspect a touch of a remake . i like sign of life for it simpler and less contrived story and star performance from actor work at their craft rather than to be notice a star .