Lay Me by the Shore

Lay Me by the Shore follows a week in the life of Noah, a high school senior in his final days of school as he comes to terms with his best friend’s passing. Bathed in the warm light of long June days and with the intimidating spectre of an unknown future looming (both his and the world’s), the tale is a highly precise character study told from the perspective of the recently departed. Through the prism of loss, the earnest, nuanced and intimate account of a young person’s very immediate but suppressed emotions becomes a generational snapshot. Utilizing a naturalistic approach, paired with a highly cinematic and formalistically elevated lens, the film highlights the raw, vivid and often overwhelming sentiments of youth with sensitivity and grace.

Directed by David Findlay, Lay Me by the Shore leans on a strong ensemble — Harris Lowe, Violet Dolejsi, Sean Harris — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 0.