On screens in Australia this weekend, DAVID ADAMS looks at Beyond Sight: The Derek Rabelo Story…
Beyond Sight: The Derek Rabelo Story (PG)
In a word: Cranking
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“Beautifully shot, this is a film that will appeal to surfers of all creeds – there’s enough legends on screen to keep everyone happy – and while it will pay to have at least a passing interest in the sport, there’s a much bigger story told here.” |
Don’t be too quick to simply dismiss this as just another surfing film.
As the title suggests, the film tells the story of blind Brazilian surfer Derek Rabelo and his determination to surf one of the world’s most dangerous surfing breaks, that of Pipeline in the Hawaiian Islands.
Directed by Bryan Jennings of Walk on Water fame – who met Derek while promoting his film Walking on Water, Beyond Sight retraces the history of Derek’s birth and early years as, undaunted by his blindness, he drew upon the expertise of friends as he learned to surf and took on bigger and bigger waves before, accompanied by a support team from his home, he eventually surfed Pipeline.
Despite realizing his dream, Derek, who was named after Pipeline surfing legend Derek Ho, hadn’t been able to surf through a barrel at the surfing break and so vowed to return the following year to do so.
Video of Derek surfing at Pipeline soon began circulating around the world and returning to Brazil, he quickly became a national hero.
Jennings, who met Derek after his Pipeline feat, subsequently took him on a trip to California where he was able to share his story and inspire others, such as the family of a small boy named Kelptyn, as well get some practical pointers from surfing legends including Kelly Slater, Laird Hamilton, Rob Machado and Damien Hobgood. Thanks to Billabong, he even became a sponsored surfer (and so realizing his father’s prayer before he was born that his son would one day become a pro surfer).
Returning to Pipeline the following year during the time of the Pipeline Masters, the film shows Derek’s increasing struggles with his growing celebrity and his ongoing disappointment as he repeatedly failed to find the barrel he was seeking at Pipeline.
It’s then that he has an epiphany of sorts and is challenged to “make his faith his own”. As to whether he achieves his final dream – well, you’ll have to see the film to find out.
Beautifully shot, this is a film that will appeal to surfers of all creeds – there’s enough legends of the sport on screen to keep everyone happy – and while it will pay to have at least a passing interest in the sport, there’s a much bigger story told here.
As Derek himself says at the end of the film: “Who am I to be so blessed? I am just a blind boy from a small town in Brazil. But God put amazing people in my life…What I have learned from the Creator of the waves is that faith is seeing the invisible.”
Beyond Sight will be shown at cinemas around Australia on 14th, 15th and 16th November- check the website for details – www.beyondsightmovie.com.au.
