Naama and Fabio are best friends. The 12 year olds surf together, hang together, and practically live together in the hills of Rio de Janiero - aka the poverty stricken Favelas.
But, while the movie's protagonists both dream of being pro surfers and escaping the ghetto, the two paths they choose - one foins a violent local gang: the other keeps his head down, to focus on his calling - can their friendship survive beyond the water, and life in the 'slums'? Ok, so there is a lot of surfing, but Rio Breaks is far more than more wave porn. Rather, it's a dark fairytale of how one simple passion can dramatically influence an individual's direction - and inspire real social change.
From the brain behind Huck magazine, Publisher Vince Medeiros, plus LA based filmmaker Justin Mitchell, the project began in 2003 after Mitchell read a story by Medeiros in Surfing magazine, when he was then associate editor, and has been an incredible labour of love since.
Now screening across the UK, Rio Breaks will be available on DVD this autumn from Amazon.
And if you see one 'surf' film this year, cliche as this sounds, it has to be Rio Breaks.
UK Cinema Screenings
3-17 June - Empire,
Leicester Square, London
3-9 June Showcase,
Leeds
3-9 June - Lighthouse
Cinema, Newquay
3-9 June - Apollo
Cinemas, Torbay
6-9 June - Cineworld,
Isle Of Wight
6-9 June - Cineworld,
Jersey
14 June - Lighthouse,
Poole + Q&A
17 June - Reel Cinema,
Kinsbridge
16 June - Picturehouse,
Exeter + Q&A
24-25 June - Savoy
Cinema, Penzance
26 June - Glastonbury Festival, UK
26-27 June - Phoenix
Cinema, Falmouth
28 June - Regal
Cinema, Redruth
28-29 June - Royal
Cinema, St Ives
18 July - Duke Of
Yorks, Brighton + Q&A
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