The life of a surfboard consists of two eras: Under the feet of a surfer and then in a landfill site. Unfortunately, the time spent in a landfill easily beats the time spent under a surfer's feet. "The Present" is a gift and shows why the present lies between the past and the future?
November and we're talking about a surf movie. Since yesterday at the latest, when the mercury rose to well over 15°C near Chur, the idea of discussing this film is not far-fetched. Apparently Mrs. Holle doesn't really want to...
"The Present" - gift or the present? You sit in front of the screen in suspense, wondering what's next. Thomas Campbell worked on the project for four years until it was finished. After all, the aim was to reach the high standard of "The Seedling and the Sprout" - one of his earlier works.
Those expecting big waves and tow-in action will be disappointed. Instead, Campbell documents the state of surfing today and risks a glimpse into a possible future. The film is shot at the most delicious spots. Dave Rastovich, Dane Reynolds, Rob Machado, Joel Tudor, Sofia Mulanovich, Kassia Meador, Dan Malloy, Chris del Moro and others cavort from Sumatra, Australia, West Africa to Hawaii - to name just a few spots. No stocktaking without a look into the past. Here, of course, legends such as: Miki Dora, Gerry Lopez, Tom Curren.
The possible future development of surfing is called: ALAIA.
Thin, finless and narrow are the boards that shaper guru Wegener brings to the people. Alaia's are nothing new; even before polystyrene and epoxy, the Hawaiians knew how to shape and oil boards that they then used to play in the waves. After some initial difficulties, the pros in this movie even venture into the breakers of Waimea...
Musically, the movie comes up with an unfamiliar but good sound. There are: Japanese Motors, Plants and Animals, Tom Guerrero and many more.
Conclusion
Old and new planks, paired with great talent in breathtaking spots spiced with the past and a possible future development are Tom Campbell's very tasty recipe. If the 74-minute film isn't enough for you, you can still pass the time with the more than 120 minutes of bonus material.
Film length: 74 minutes
Bonus: more than 120 minutes
Price: 29.99 euros