Synopses Durban

Sun 4th July 2010

The Wavescapes Film Festival comes to Durban. This year’s lineup boasts 10 impressive surf films and doccies. Pull into all the action between the 25th through to the 30 July. Click here for more information.

GUM FOR MY BOAT

Bangladesh, 2009, Video, 32 min
Director: Russel Brownley
Cast: Kahana Kalana, Jafar Alam, Tom Bauer, stoked groms

Dim lights

Meet Jafar, Bangladesh’s first surfer. A travelling Ozzie sold him a surfboard for 20 bucks in 1991, and he made history that has grown into a story about 70 stoked groms, Bangladesh’s first surf club, and how surfing flourished in unlikely places. Narrated by hip, cool Kahana Kalana, a pro-surfer, this film sweeps you through the gritty streets and into the briny sea, where stoke abounds from street urchin to NGO volunteer. Feel good in the real world bru.

CANCER TO CAPRICORN

Australia, Micronesia, Hawaii, El Salvador, Mexico, Indonesia, 2010, 44 min
Director: Russell Brownley
Cast: Mick Fanning, Rob Machado, Mike Losness, Jay Thompson, Tonino Benson, Ben Bourgeois
Dim lights
As it is with surfers, checking the surf is a precursor to riding waves. Here, surfers travel to exotic locations and finds, well, see how long it takes for you to start gnawing on your passport and begging mom to loan you some money. Between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, tropical storms are tracked, scored, and scoured by some of the best surfers in the world. This is the path of the modern gypsy. Yes. Please.

FIBERGLASS AND MEGAPIXELS

Hawaii, 2010, HD Video, Stills, 48 min
Director: Derek Hoffmann, Craig Hoffmann
Cast: Mark Healey, Ian Walsh, Dave Nelson, Ted Grambeau and many others

Dim lights

The inside story of surf photography. As pro surfer Mark Healey says, “Next time somebody asks me what I do for a living I'll just have them watch this movie.” True to the sharp lens and camera technology of the digital age, this vivid doccie transports you through the eyes of the world’s best surf photographers, including our Pierre Tostee, to focus on the North Shore. Five awards this year and counting. Inspiring, sumptious, and insanely rich in visuals.

LIVES OF THE ARTISTS

Tahiti, Greenland, England, 2009, Video, 79 min
Director: Ross Cairns
Cast: Tom Lowe, Fergal Smith, Mickey Smith, Xavier De Le Rue, The Gallows

Dim lights

Award-winning doccie about a freakish French snowboarder, big-balled Irish surfers and an angry British punk band seeking the summit of their skill. From wide-eyed rides in giant Chopes, terrifying slides down virgin chutes in Greenland or tattooed head-banging mayhem, they  share the desire to find the salt-encrusted, powder-snowed, guitar-ghettoed grail of their inner artist. Not for the squeamish. No Under 16.

MODERN COLLECTIVE

USA, 2009, Video, 57 min
Director: Kai Neville
Cast: Jordy Smith, Dion Agius, Dusty Payne, Dane Reynolds, Mitch Coleburn and Yadin Nicol

Dim lights

Mind bending and air blowing, this action paced film is fast and frenetic, with an engaging emo-rock soundtrack. Evolution at its scariest! A collective of young rippers push the limits - Jordy Smith, Dion Aguis, Dusty Payne, Dane Reynolds, Mitch Coleburn and Yadin Nicol. It is the kind of movie that will leave the ballies shaking their heads in dismay and the groms and shredders dreaming incessantly of punting huge air reverses. Mad rad dad.

STILL FILTHY

USA, 2009, 16mm HD, 54 min
Director: Jarrod Tallman
Cast: Andy Irons, Taj Burrow, Joel Parkinson, Wade Goodall

Dim lights

A fast-paced sequel to iconic 80’s flick – the “raw and unapologetic” Filthy Habits, where the ous hit the lip so hard they knew they would hurt themselves, said Richie Collins then. The new Bong crew, with Andy, Parko, Taj, Wade and even our own Dooma, share the sentiments as they rip the planet. If the old crew had seen Still Filthy, they may have peed in their checkered rods. Hard-driving soundtrack and more airs than Victorian royalty at high tea.

THE PRESENT

USA, 2009, 16mm / 35mm / Video, 74 min
Director: Thomas Campbell
Cast: Dave Rastovich, Dane Reynolds, Joel Tudor, Chelsea Hedges, Kassia Meador, Dan Malloy, Rob Machado

Dim lights

Wow. By the acclaimed director of The Seedling and Sprout here comes a multi-cultural exploration of surfing and surfers through a 16mm lens in Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, California, Indo and Peru. You know that with Campbell, it will be art, and at times visceral poetry. He LIVES in the film, like he camped in the celluloid. There is so much care in the shots, like Tarantino but without the chopsuey. Quirky moments too. Lank fun for everyone.

QUEST FOR FEAR

USA, South Africa, 2009, Video, 52 min
Director: Grant Washburn
Cast: Greg Long, Grant Twiggy Baker, Grant Spooner, Peter Mel, Matt Ambrose, Jeff Clark

Dim lights

Join the migratory hunt to ride a wave the African Mavericks. You can guess where. On our doorstep. A ten year journey in pursuit of the ultimate big wave, with the dark thump of the Dungeons, Cape Town, holding court. Chase the swells of the decade and explore a monstrous new frontier. Re-cut with incredible footage from 2008, including the last Red Bull Big Wave Africa after 10 years. Features the Mermen. Narrated by Mavs great, Grant Washburn.

DEAR & YONDER

USA, 2009, Video, 54 min
Director: Tiffany Campbell
Cast: Stephanie Gilmore, Sally Fitzgibbons, Rell Sunn, Coco Ho, Sofia Mulanovich, Kassia Meador, Belinda Baggs

Dim lights

Be propelled to a new level of skill and self-expression by a cast of beautiful people with supremely subtle and fluid grace at the most ridiculously good waves you will see, well, until the next Wavescapes film screens some the most ridiculously good waves you will see, and so on, like a nested Matryoshka. Rich, heady visions take you into the present, and back on soul-filled forays to uncover the rich history of women's surfing.

THE DRIFTER

USA, Indonesia 2009, Video, 57 min
Director: Taylor Steele
Cast: Rob Machado

Dim lights

The Horror! In the summer of 2008, iconic surfer and former Pipe Master Rob Machado flew to Indonesia to seek solitude and solace. Like Captain Kurt, he goes a little loco, acts weird and surfs his nuts off. Deep in the jungle, he surfs an unknown Indo reef, and gets barrelled off his pip. His Zen-like mastery is a flowing counterpoint to American machismo. What did he discover? Dear Diary: Don’t stop dreaming. Sick waves. Girls will go ga-ga.