Surfing the waves

   

I was just watching the film ”Local Boys” today when I remembered one of my first coming of age films in this blog, ”Iki Haole” , the charming film about the lonely boy from Rumania who comes to Hawaii and there befriends some older guys to hang around with at the beach, surfing, even taking a swim at a nudist beach. It´s a very friendly, heartwarming film, despite the very thin story and with an acting I could have done better myself. Almost. But the sun, the waves, the sand and most of all, the friendship between the guys that almost is like they were brothers, is nice to watch.

The ”Local Boys” however, is a film with a much better story, and with the ultra-talented Jeremy Sumpter in the leading role. But even here it´s not the story in itself that makes you watch this film over and over again. It´s the sun, the waves, the sand and the friendship between the boy and the older former surfer-pro, who is somewhat of a father-figure to the boy, at least that´s the way the boy wants it to be.  

Does anyone know of other coming of age films with a surfer-theme? Pls let me know!

   

Trailer ”Local Boys”

Trailer of the film ”Local Boys” with Jeremy Sumpter.

Iki Haole- Nico´s Hawaiian Adventure

Translated from native Hawaiian, ”Iki Haole” means ”my little foreign friend” and friendship is just what this unique made-for-German-television feature is all about. (Shot in English). Fifteen -year-old Nico, played by cuddly, cute Romanian actor Nico Almasan, is on his own in sunny Honolulu where he soon gets himself into truble with one of the local bullies. To the rescue comes James, a twenty-four-year-old surfer, played with laidback charm by handsome newcomer David C. Naughton. What follows is a sweet, sometimes silly adventure and a wonderful exploration of male bonding. With wide-eyed and puppy-like devotion, young Nico happily accompanies his older pal on a quest for the perfect wave, and in the process gets an insider’s tour of the Big Island. Part travelogue, part kids-on-the-loose escape, Iki haole takes you to an idyllic paradise of waterfalls and killer waves, skinny dippin’ at swimming holes, hula dancers and amost of all to a magical place where boyhood never has to end. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!