Dirty Old Wedge

In 1936, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built a stone jetty extending far into the water at Newport Beach in Southern California. One result was the appearance of freakishly large and dangerous waves, collectively called “the Wedge,” which are still there today. Naturally, the Wedge drew a band of thrill-seeking adventurers from SoCal's surfing community. Filmmaker Tim Burnham's Dirty Old Wedge presents a mostly cheerful remembrance of various surfers and their antics from a quarter-century ago. Survivors tell the story of a Wedge cult that gradually solidified and claimed the waves for themselves, casting a wary and hostile eye towards anyone who showed up with a board and (wittingly or not) challenged the self-anointed hierarchy. Over time, the Wedge became a magnet for bodysurfers more than anything else, with young people tossed about like corks and sometimes injured (even paralyzed) by enormous waves that broke in shallow water. Dirty Old Wedge deals with a few other dramas, too, including court cases and a 2014 hurricane. Despite the accidents and tragedies, the Newport Beach scene here largely seems to be a non-stop party that is all about tans, Speedos, clowning around, and girls. While hardcore surfing fans will likely appreciate, others will be less enamored with this slog through somebody else's glory days. Optional. Aud: P. (T. Keogh)