This is a truly extraordinary, deeply moving film. It beautifully portrays the intertwined paths that these young surfers take from innocent, playful (and of course mischievous) childhood to adulthood and deeper wisdom and truth. It leaves you realizing how the chaos of reality, when distilled to its essence by a creative soul, can be shaped into stories that far exceed fiction in their power and depth. The film portrays universal human experiences that revolve around but transcend surfing: triumphs that give you chills, friendships that define the true meaning of the term, follies that make you laugh out loud, tragedies and life lessons that bring tears to your eyes. If you're already a surfer, it will touch your heart in ways that you already understand on multiple levels. If you're not, it will make you want to experience the beauty of it. But above all, if you're alive in the modern world, it offers an inspirational and spiritually enlightening allegory for how to save your soul in a world that is far too obsessed with commercialism, competition, money, and material success. It's as cleansing as duck-diving through a sparkling wave and paddling out for a sunlit session of endless barrels (your eyes may be equally moist before it's over..). A spectacular, heartwarming achievement that enriches its viewers beyond words. Standing ovation!
