Rio Breaks

This Sundance Channel-aired documentary follows a pair of Brazilian boys learning to surf, as well as navigate the precarious ups and downs of adolescence in a hardscrabble environment. Director Justin Mitchell describes Rio Breaks as “a real-life City of God meets Dogtown and the Z-Boys”—which is an apt description, although the film also recalls Hoop Dreams. Viewers follow 13-year-old Fabio, who lost his father to drug violence, and 12-year-old Naamã, who enjoys a more stable home life—both of whom live in Rio de Janeiro's hillside shantytowns, or favelas. The lads take instruction from Rogerio at the Favela Surf Club, who feels that the beach is “the only truly democratic and free place we have in Rio.” Over the course of the production, the boys' friendship waxes and wanes, primarily because Fabio, who drops in and out of school, can be a bully, although Naamã doesn't let his moody friend bring him down. While focusing on the charismatic duo and their dreams of winning an upcoming competition and breaking into the realm of professional sports, Mitchell interviews dozens of other boarders, including pros Simão Romão and Maya Gabeira, who talk about the dangers of the slums and the pleasures of surfing. DVD extras include bonus scenes and a featurette. An artfully filmed documentary backed by a tasteful selection of Brazilian music, Rio Breaks is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)