The fish trap is formed of wire and wood into a conical shape. A fish swims into the widest part of the cage and is trapped in a position which is impossible to turn around. It's the big picture used to lure you into an ultimately intimate story. Sayles works his magic like a great story-teller, shifting focus with brilliant editing and piecing together a rich panorama. The actors really nail this one.
Limbo plays so naturally.
Early on, as an ensemble work, every little part runs true. I suppose it the beautiful rhythm of the editing that makes everything seem so comfortable and natural. I say the audio commentary by Sayles is every bit as good as his filmmaking. You get a glimpse into the mind of the writer, the tricks and savvy of the director and the sharp skill of the editor. Sayles points out how in an important emotional scene for Mastrantonio, he did it one long take, though in the finished film the scene is broken down in two major segments.