Dazzlingly picturesque study of two surfers' three-month trip around the world in search of "the perfect wave."
Starting out in California during the winter, the two journey to Ghana, where they initiate the locals into the joys of surfing. An African game hunter gives them a ride to Cape St. Francis, where they experience a wave that lasts so long that it indeed qualifies as "perfect." From there, they fly
to Australia and New Zealand, where the waves just aren't happening. Not so with Tahiti, where the pair discover three exceptional beaches. Their trip ends in Hawaii, and a visit to the "Pipe Line," where the waves are up to forty feet high.
Filmmaker Bruce Brown is not what you would call a disinterested observer. In fact, he exhibits a keen sense of identification with his principals' quest for surf-fulfillment. He skillfully conveys the enthusiasm that spurs on world-class surfers and lets the viewer delight in the sandy
environment they inhabit.
Only those who find the subject matter utterly disinteresting will be turned off by Brown's devoted, almost fanatical, approach. Otherwise, the film has a low-budget charm that won it many admirers in and out of the surfing community. Its cult popularity created a demand for a sequel that Brown
delivered--close to three decades later. leave a comment