Enora Maurer

Personal enjoyment: ★★★★
Australia
Director: Simon Baker
Starring: Simon Baker (Sando), Samson Coulter (Pikelet), Ben Spence (Loonie)
Genre: Drama
Running time: 115 minutes

First movie in the Cannes Cinéphile program that I got to see.

Therefore also first experience of standing in line at 8.15 a.m with mostly old people who came prepared (camping chair, book to kill the waiting time, program full with post-its…).

Once all were in, there were actually plenty of seats left, so even those without accreditation may make a morning session! Before the film started there was a short presentation of the movie and a reminder that no one may leave before the end credits were over, out of respect for the directors and the movie; if you do, they may ban you from the festival and take your accreditation badge away!

The movie was gripping – beautiful images of the powerful, magnificent and at the same time terrifying sea. Two Australian teenage boys take their first waves and are coached by the local surf legend Sando played by Simon Baker. I already liked Simon Baker as The Mentalist, but he really does pull off that surfer boy look…

A melodic/dramatic piano music accompanies the wave scenes and intertwines with the sound of the water, which left me tense throughout the whole movie, especially after the mention of a shark, I expected it to attack at any moment. I won’t say if he does, you will have to enjoy this movie for yourself!