Gauchos del Mar: Surfing the American Pacific

Like Bruce Brown in his seminal surf epic The Endless Summer (VL-1/11), Argentinean sibling filmmakers Julián and Joaquín Azulay—the “sea cowboys” of this documentary's title—convey the notion that surfing is not only a sport and a recreational activity, but also a spiritual endeavor that offers a means of connecting with the awesome power of the ocean. In Gauchos del Mar, the brothers (sons of a 1960s surfing pioneer father) embark on a 403-day camping trip from Los Angeles to southern Chile, with a stop at every surfable break along the way, before returning to their home in Argentina. The pair meet a variety of people living and working along the coasts of the Americas (touching base in 13 countries altogether), including a family who takes them in for a week to wait out a storm, and a teen agrarian who takes his first-ever ride on the waves under the Azulays' tutelage. Perhaps the spirit of the film can best be summed up with this quote: “Some preferred to stay in five-star hotels, while we preferred to sleep in the open under millions of them.” A multiple award winner, this is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. [Note: the companion documentary Tierra de Patagones by the Gauchos del Mar is also available at the same price.] Aud: P. (C. Block)