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First Love poster

FEATURING
JESS LAING
INDIA PAYNE
NIKKI VAN DIJK
CAHILL BELL-WARREN
AMANDA BLANCHARD
GEORGIA FISH
STEPHANIE GILMORE
COCO HO

WRITTEN BY
FRAN DERHAM

PRODUCED BY
FRAN DERHAM
CLARE PLUECKHAHN

DIRECTED BY
CLAIRE GORMAN

GENRE
DOCUMENTARY
SPORT

RATED
AUS: G
UK: NA
USA: NA

RUNNING TIME
62 MIN

 

FIRST LOVE (2011)

Australian surfing documentary First Love presents proof positive that there is indeed talent and passion to be found in Generation Y.

Much like the 1994 sports documentary Hoop Dreams, this is a story about teens from a specific environment, grasping onto their dreams.

The teens here are Nikki van Dijk, Jess Laing, and India Payne, upcoming surf stars from Phillips Island, Victoria. Although still in high school, the wave riding trio have found their calling in the ocean, participating in amateur surfing competitions and planning a trip to Hawaii to hang with the big boys (or girls, in this instance).

First Love is directed by Phillips Island resident Claire Gorman, who does a great job of getting into the heads of these determined young women, while also exploring the environment around them. Surfing is shown as not some hobby to pass the time, but a vital activity that brings psychological and spiritual fulfilment, a fact which makes a severe injury to Jess all the more tragic.

Of the three, it is Jess that is the most compelling. Suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, surfing gives her focus and energy. When it’s briefly taken away, her life and the film switches gears, as the trio becomes a duo, with Nikki and India escaping the winter chill of Phillips Island for the sunny climes of Hawaii.

At this point, First Love becomes more than a personal story, with the environment of women’s surfing explored. Cue the likes of current surf champ Stephanie Gilmore and pin up Alana Blanchard, breaking hearts and owning Hawaii’s monstrous waves to the awe of Nikki and India.

If strength is found in adversity and inspiration in role models, then count these three girls fortunate. Their love and commitment for surfing not only makes fine watching, but is also a tribute to their character, a crucial element missing from their generation.

Here’s hoping that Gorman catches up with the a few years down the road, and see if their dreams and love is still strong.

***1/2
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