Time to reminisce about living in a country town where the streets are wide, the traffic non-existent, and there isn’t a franchised coffee shop or restaurant logo in sight. Simpler times … aah. Enter the 1970’s and Drift, the latest surfing movie by Myles Pollard, which explores what it took for two brothers to start up what would become a global surfing phenomenon. I was fortunate to be at the Perth premier, held at Event Cinemas. The night included a Q&A with the stars which will be the next post, in the meantime here’s the review.
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| Drift the movie |
The brief: take a true story, let’s say two brothers Andy Kelly (Myles Pollard) and Jimmy Kelly (Xavier Samuel) who started the beginning of modern day surf culture. Add in JB an infamous surf film maker (Sam Worthington), whose ponderings on life give the movie some of its most memorable lines. His beautiful charge Kat Kelly (Robyn Malcolm), who has the potential to upset the applecart, a ruthless bikie Miller (Steve Bastoni), and a hard to convince bank manager.
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| Sam Worthington in Drift |
Shoot it amongst the stunning scenery in the South West of Western Australia.
Employ cameramen who usually film surfing movies, just to make sure the vision takes the audience right inside the wave. In so doing manage to capture the largest wave ever seen in a movie.
Throw in some dubious fashion, film it as a slow, laidback burn, and you have the aptly named DRIFT.
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| Drift the movie |
As with any movie that’s shot in your backyard it’s wonderful to recognise the landscape.
What was interesting to ponder however, was how unrecognisable it looked from the present day. By using places like Nannup, the produces were able to capture the feel of Margaret River when it was still a sleepy country town to go hang out in. A place where you could combine your worst trackie dacks, and threadbare flannie and feel at home. A place many of us have fond memories of.
Talking about fashion, it was fun and somewhat embarrassing, to be reminded about the fashions of the time, no wonder the brothers produce took off so fast. It was also interesting to see the rise of the wet seal, wetsuit look and leg ropes.
It’s well known that the premier in Yallingup during the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro comp went down really well amongst the pros in town for the competition … a tough crowd. No doubt they enjoyed seeing how the competition looked when it first began, with rickety scaffolding and not a corporate banner in sight.
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| Drift the movie |
On the night of the premier the team had just found out that they’d won … Best Narrative film in Rincon International Film Festival held in Puerto Rico.
Perhaps it was lines like …
‘you can’t beat the man by becoming the man,’
or
‘you can’t buy what he’s got, especially if he’s not selling,’ or maybe
‘those leg cords won’t catch on.’
Aside from being a good surfing movie, Drift also provides insight and inspiration for anyone struggling to start up a small business. Amongst other things it highlights how marketing and PR played a key roll in their assentation.
My advice when you watch it is to settle in for the slow drift and enjoy the waves as they literally feel like they’re washing over you. I was left pondering what it would be if Avitar director James Cameron got hold of it and made a 3D version.
On April 29th it will be the Australian Spotlight at The Newport Beach Film Festival (Official).
Coming to cinemas May 2nd
Running time 113 mins
For more information go to http://www.driftthemovie.com/
This link should take you to the trailer (hopefully) trailer
Stay Tuned for the Q &A session in the next post.
