Santiago endures eighty-four barren outings on the Gulf without landing a catch, viewed by fellow villagers as an unlucky relic of the past. Stripped of his apprentice by superstitious parents, the elderly Cuban mariner rows his modest wooden skiff deep into uncharted waters, determined to test his fading strength against the open sea.
When a colossal marlin takes his line, Santiago endures an agonizing multi-day endurance trial beneath scorching sun and bitter cold, forging deep respect for the creature. But as predatory sharks circle the bloody return voyage, Santiago wages a desperate battle with crude makeshift blades, refusing to surrender his human dignity.
