Image Entertainment | 2009 | 95 mins. | NR
Dana Brown has surfing in his blood. As the son of legendary filmmaker Bruce Brown (Endless Summer) he spent a lot of time on beaches, as his father documented the lives of surfers. Dana, after discovering he was better suited for a life behind the camera than that of a surfer, released his first original film, Step in to Liquid in 2003. His latest project, Highwater follows life on the North Shore and the surfers who compete in the 2005 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.
Written, directed, and narrated by Brown, and assisted by cinematographer Steve Matzinger, Highwater is a compelling and gorgeous film. Brown’s narrative style shows his love for surfing, as the film covers the 55-day, three-tiered event in all its athletic glory, incorporating top-notch surfing footage, casual interviews with the contest’s many competitors (including top pros such as Kelly Slater, Sunny Garcia, Chelsea Georgeson and teen sensation Jon-Jon Florence), while giving viewers a taste of the surfer lifestyle.
The North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii is one of the most challenging places to surf at the end of November and into December. Risking serious injury and even death, hundreds of surfers gather each year to take on the ‘pipeline.’ Despite the dangers, as one surfer remarks, “there’s no other way we’d rather die.” Sadly, the drowning death of pro surfer Malik Joyeux, which occurred during this Triple Crown, offers a sobering reminder of the enormous risk lurking inside those powerful, captivating waves.
I have never surfed, yet found myself captivated by the photography and the sense of freedom the competitors seem to feel. There’s little doubt in my mind that surfing is more than a sport for many, it’s a lifestyle. I was struck by the interview with native Hawaiian and six-time tournament champion Sonny Garcia. Having grown up on the North Shore, he has strong feelings about the influx of affluent people into the community and the construction of so many deluxe properties along the shoreline. Rather bluntly, he says that he hopes for a hurricane to help drive away the more thin-skinned newcomers.
Highwater’s most intriguing subject is Eric Haas, an eccentric, mythical surfer known to amaze in the water with his unmatched technique. Surfer’s trade “Eric Haas” stories —the most memorable coming from Slater and Keith Malloy, who recall seeing the oddball hit the waves in a football uniform.
Solid camera work and brisk editing (done with Brown’s son, Wes), help to overcome a script that throws out too many clichés. At times, Highwater comes dangerously close to looking like Brown’s home movies—there’s footage of his daughter laughing for no apparent reason, and he slips in shots of “dear ‘ol dad” whenever possible—but, surf movies are the family business after all. In the end, anyone who likes these types of films should give this one a look.
Presented in 1.78:1 aspect ratio and enhanced for 16×9 TV’s, Highwater looks very good on standard definition DVD. Colors are bright and vibrant, while faces maintain a natural look. There are no real digital anomalies to speak of.
The Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround does a solid job. The dialogue of the narrator and interviewees is clean and clear. You also get fairly good surrounds (if not exactly immersive), when it comes to hearing waves, beach sounds and the music soundtrack provided by Switchfoot.
We get the following special features:
- Extended Interviews With The Surfers (48:09) Most of the surfers interviewed throughout the film, expand on their thoughts.
- Trailer
