When the surf documentary “Bra Boys” first came on our radar by promoter and marketer for Berkela Films, Ian Votteri, it was during the over-committed MAGIC Fashion trade show scene last month in Vegas. However, a small private showing took place to a limited number of people at the Hard Rock Hotel that would start a ground-swell of word-of-mouth support encouraging new eager fans bent on seeing the movie for themselves.
We were among them. Luckily, it showcased again a couple of weeks later during the ASR show in San Diego at Spreckels Theatre. While Spreckels usually hosts the hot new snowboarding videos of the upcoming season by production crews such as Standard Films or Teton Gravity Research, this time there was a completely different crowd waiting until the snowboarders filed out before re-filling the theatre again. Among the “Bra Boy” movie-goers were troupes of hardcore surfers clearly noticeable from their sun-bleached hair, various tatts, and deep tans, plus plenty of Australians, and the assorted group of people who are always curious to see anything on the edges of culture. In this case, the edge documented is the inner-Sydney scene of the gnarliest ‘burb imaginable called Maroubra beach.
Based on a true story, the documentary traces the fate of 4 brothers Sunny, Kobi, Jai, and Dakota Abberton known as the “Bra Boys” who through surfing, are able to make their way through the hardships of a gang-riddled lifestyle. It explores many social issues of this maligned surf community, with shots from helicopter police reminiscent of the riots in LA and rough justice dealt to certain sects of society. Full of great surf images and huge waves from Kobi Abberton’s big-wave professional career, mixed with a heavy dose of insider secrets like the handshake and tattoos, “Bra Boys” is a slice of cultural history, including the outcome of a major criminal case, that explains a great deal about Australia’s historical stigma associated with surfing, and the trust-factor and gang-like family ties created simply as a way of survival.
Top surfers such as Kelly Slater talk about how tough this area is not just because of the big surf, but mostly because of the local scene: If you’re not on the inside, you get the shit beat out of you at surf this break. “Bra Boys” shows how some sports are the exit to personal hell, similar to surfing and skateboarding in “Dogtown and the Z-Boys” documentary. It also proves why some surfers are so tough and dedicated as surfing is clearly their ticket out of a horrible home life or unimaginable community situation.
Because the documentary crosses so many boundaries, the movie is not what one would consider a typical surf flick. Rather, it’s content is the sort that has already created a significant buzz particularly among marginalized youth culture, who can relate to similar situations. The story of the “Bra Boys” has just been optioned by Brian Grazer with Imagine Entertainment, and they will be putting out the film starring Russell Crowe, which will also be Crowe’s directorial debut, scheduled for next year. Meanwhile, the theatrical release of the documentary will premiere in January ’08. www.braboysfilm.com.
