An engrossing documentary about Austrailia’s Maroubra beach “tribe” of young surfers surviving in an urban community rife with gang violence, drugs, etc. What is uniqaue is the brotherhood aspect of the tribe, how the watch eachother’s back, do stupid things together, and experience surfing as their salvation from what surely would have turned in to questionable lives. The stories of the urban gang fights, fits of Jackass-like behavior, tension with the police, digressions in to stories of alleged crime and redemption were all very interesting, but I really loved to see how surfing transformed the boys and how the tribe “elders” looked after the younger ones and brought them up through excellent surfing as well as genuine life mentorship.
Many shots had a handy-cam feel, with jerkiness and things obscuring shots and such — but in this case, it added to the film.
Lots of fighting, drinking, etc. A very little bit of nudity.