A messy reclamation of land, memory, identity, masculinity, dignity. Narratively overt. And while these ideas connect, there’s too much being stacked here. The least explicitly explored—and by far the most interesting—is the sublime. But visually and sonically, thanks to the film’s strong formal control, the loudest and most compelling of the Surfer’s many motivations is precisely that awe—that beatific allure, that sensorial pull of being in those waves. Majestic sanctuary.
Quite simply, this has some of the most beautiful shots of water and nature I’ve ever seen. And the sun that bakes it all, perfectly saturating each daylight frame—you feel it as much as see it. But truly, the water. “Absolutely gorgeous” is an understatement. I felt utterly consumed by…