The Weight of Water 2002

In the late 19th century, the isolated Smuttynose Island off the New Hampshire coast bore witness to a gruesome double murder perpetrated by two Norwegian immigrant sisters, Karen Christensen (Anethe Christensen) and Anethe Christensen. Only Maren Hontvedt, another Norwegian immigrant, survived the brutal attack. The perpetrator, Louis Wagner, was later convicted and met his demise on the gallows.

Fast-forwarding to the present day, journalist Jean Janes (no actor name provided) delves into the cold case, accompanied by her husband Thomas, an acclaimed poet, as well as his brother Rich, who owns a boat, and Rich’s companion Adaline. During their voyage to Smuttynose Island, Jean discovers a treasure trove of archived papers penned by Maren herself, detailing her life on the island and the tragic events that unfolded.

As Jean becomes increasingly immersed in Maren’s story, she finds herself grappling with her own insecurities, fueled by Adaline’s overt flirtations with Thomas. Meanwhile, the narrative unfolds through Maren’s testimony against Wagner, which ultimately leads to his execution by hanging.

However, as Jean delves deeper into the past, she uncovers a complex web of relationships and motivations that led Maren down a path of despair and destruction. It transpires that Maren was brought to Smuttynose Island by her husband, with whom she felt no romantic passion. She staved off loneliness by keeping busy, only for her spirits to be lifted when her brother arrived on the island with his new wife, Anethe Christensen.

Initially, Maren viewed Anethe as a rival for her brother’s affections, but soon found herself harboring a deep-seated desire for her sister. On the fateful night of the murders, with their husbands absent from the island, Maren and Anethe drew closer together, only to be caught by Karen, their stern and suspicious sister. In a fit of rage, Maren killed both Karen and Anethe.

The film concludes with Maren attempting to confess before Wagner’s execution, but the courts refuse to accept her testimony, leaving Wagner to meet his demise on the gallows.