Review: Message in a Bottle (UK Cinemas)

Review by Ozbil Dumenci

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ve always been partial to Sting’s music. When I say always, I mean two things.

First, I remember being a child who barely spoke any English, sitting in my aunt’s car in Cyprus, listening to ‘Englishman in New York’ and being thoroughly entertained by the line ‘I’m an alien’ without appreciating the not-so-complex meaning behind it.

The second layer of this iceberg is much more recent. Fast forward to 2017. A young adult living in London, in the trenches with medical school exams, walking back home from the library after a long day of revision. I stumbled upon the queue for Sting performing at Hammersmith Apollo, and scored a last minute £20 ticket to see him there and then.

Given my oddly specific history with Sting, I jumped on the opportunity to review the recording of Message in a Bottle, a performance piece about an imagined but an all too recognisable family torn apart by violence, initially staged at Sadler’s Wells in 2020, telling a story set to Sting’s iconic catalogue. 

The songs that make up the soundtrack to Message in a Bottle are undoubtedly timeless, with hits such as ‘Every Little Thing She Does is Magic’ and ‘Roxanne’. Having re-recorded some of his most recognisable songs, the overall package ends up being largely cohesive despite the songs spanning Sting’s long and illustrious career.

However, the real star of this production is the choreography by the three-time Olivier nominee Kate Prince, which is as complex as it is evocative. It conveys this story of separation despite the lack of the power of exposition a more traditional theatrical production provides. Every member of the cast is outstanding, as they all deliver a visually striking performance that takes the audience on a journey much like the characters in the story.

The lighting design further elevates this production, as light is used brilliantly to guide the audience’s attention across the story unfolding on stage. What may have been an overwhelming experience at times comes across as rather easily digestible.

I often find professional recordings of stage shows to be soulless and emotionally distant. Perhaps this is due to the difficulty in suspension of disbelief compared to when one’s seated in a theatre. Message in a Bottle is filmed in a way that preserves the emotional core of the story. It also does not pretend to be a blockbuster movie with constant camera trickery that feels like whiplash (another error that some proshots make in my humble opinion). It is filmed just right to be thrilling without being overwhelming.

Overall, Message in a Bottle tells a modern but timeless story beautifully in a medium that is often underappreciated. Being released in cinemas across the UK from 30th May, it is a thrilling watch that takes the audience on a journey through the power of movement.

Message in a Bottle played in UK cinemas on May 30th until June 6th

Photos by Lynn Theisen