The Australian movie, Breath, was released on the May 3. Based on the novel by Australian author, Tim Winton, it both a surf movie and a coming-of-age move — but not in the mould the usual offerings from these genres. I went to see it on the opening morning enjoyed it immensely.
The setting is Denmark, a small town on the rugged southern coast of Western Australia, and it is spectacular, as is the surf photography.
The Guardian’s review says “profound Tim Winton adaption swirls with soul and beauty. From the opening moment, the film’s colour grading has a misty melancholic quality. This is a far cry from the conventional way to shoot surfer and beach films: with deep blues and hot, sun-kissed yellows and oranges.
My enjoyment was enhanced by viewing it in the historic movie theatre situated next to to the surf club at Avoca Beach on the Central Coast of New South Wales, just down the road from home. In the end, I stepped out into the brilliant sunshine with surfers riding the waves close. Surreal.
I am not sure what the release dates of Breath will be outside Australia and NZ but if you do have a chance to see it I heartily recommend it.
By chance, I have two photos which could almost be stills from Breath. I took the first the week I bought my Leica X1 way back in May 2011. It shows a young guy, who could easily be the character Pikelet from the movie, walking back from the surf at Avoca Beach. Despite the fact that I have since taken thousands of X1 photos, this one remains one of my personal favourites.
The second photo was taken at nearby Terrigal Beach after a big storm in June 2016. Even the mighty X1 would have struggled with this long shot. But I used the Sony a7 I owned at the time. I had the Zeiss 150mm lens from my Hasselblad 500 coupled to the Sony. It was beautiful lens but it, along with the Sony and the ‘Blad, have gone to good homes where I am sure they are appreciated.
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- You can find more from John Shingleton at The Rolling Road and on on Instagram at therollingroad.
John – So many good breaks by you! We follow your surfing scene pretty closely here in San Diego. Wiki says that the movie release in the US June 1. Folks here will be all over it.
Awesome images John, thank you for sharing. I may wait for a full dvd, or download release to see the film in the future. Dave
Two marvellous shots, John, and I can quite understand your feelings about the first one with its intense inwardness. And the second one: well I expected the sea to move any moment !
Just to add my name to the above which somehow got clipped out!