Breath * * * *
This is based on a Tim Winton novel. I've never read a Tim Winton novel. If you're reading this Tim, it's nothing personal. There's lots of celebrated authors I haven't read. I'ts just that I find it difficult to read anyone who's quality of writing isn't the same standard as my own, as demonstrated in this remarkable blog.....
To be honest I don't know why I haven't read a Winton (most Australian's have) but after viewing this I think I might.
Another thing I have never done is surfing (and at this stage of life I'm not going to start), it just looks cold and unpleasant, but this film gave me a whole new appreciation of the sport/skill or however you'd like to call it. You get it. Even if you can't do it, or don't want to do it, watching Breath you get it.
I don't know if I'd call Breath a "coming of age" story so much as a period from a young man's life in a small West Australian town. Set in the early to mid 1970's we meet Pikelet when he is about 14 and the story goes for about 3 years. The boy next door - Loonie - is Pikelet's best mate. They lark around on their bikes and pedal about the town getting up to mischief. One day they watch older boys surfing. Soon they've got some Styrofoam surfboards and they're into it. Later they meet Sando, a guy who they call a hippie. He lives in a house with his mysterious American girlfriend, Eva. She was a champion skier but injury has put a halt to her career. Sando takes the boys under his wing and elevates their surfing skills and confidence. With Sando they step up to taking on bigger and bigger surf.
But Pikelet begins to lose confidence and interest. He declines to go to Indonesia with Sando and Loonie. As he stays in town, another interest awakens him and soon he is getting to know Eva in a very intimate way.
The story is engaging enough, but the magic of this film is the telling of it. It really is quite beautifully done. Director Simon Baker, who also plays Sando, brings out the best in the two lads who play Pikelet and Loonie. The photography (especially the surf photography) is extraordinary.
There are a few things I would nitpick with Breath though. There are some items which are clumsily inserted. I'm guessing they were in the novel and probably made sense in that context but, other than trying to highlight the films title, suddenly look incongruous - even vulgar - when included in the film. And I was disappointed with VO narrative to quickly wrap up the story. But the rest of Breath is so good, you readily forgive.
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| Everybody gone surfin'. Surfin' W.A. |
Another thing I have never done is surfing (and at this stage of life I'm not going to start), it just looks cold and unpleasant, but this film gave me a whole new appreciation of the sport/skill or however you'd like to call it. You get it. Even if you can't do it, or don't want to do it, watching Breath you get it.
I don't know if I'd call Breath a "coming of age" story so much as a period from a young man's life in a small West Australian town. Set in the early to mid 1970's we meet Pikelet when he is about 14 and the story goes for about 3 years. The boy next door - Loonie - is Pikelet's best mate. They lark around on their bikes and pedal about the town getting up to mischief. One day they watch older boys surfing. Soon they've got some Styrofoam surfboards and they're into it. Later they meet Sando, a guy who they call a hippie. He lives in a house with his mysterious American girlfriend, Eva. She was a champion skier but injury has put a halt to her career. Sando takes the boys under his wing and elevates their surfing skills and confidence. With Sando they step up to taking on bigger and bigger surf.
But Pikelet begins to lose confidence and interest. He declines to go to Indonesia with Sando and Loonie. As he stays in town, another interest awakens him and soon he is getting to know Eva in a very intimate way.
The story is engaging enough, but the magic of this film is the telling of it. It really is quite beautifully done. Director Simon Baker, who also plays Sando, brings out the best in the two lads who play Pikelet and Loonie. The photography (especially the surf photography) is extraordinary.
There are a few things I would nitpick with Breath though. There are some items which are clumsily inserted. I'm guessing they were in the novel and probably made sense in that context but, other than trying to highlight the films title, suddenly look incongruous - even vulgar - when included in the film. And I was disappointed with VO narrative to quickly wrap up the story. But the rest of Breath is so good, you readily forgive.
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