This film screened on Saturday 2nd December 2017. 

Pioneering big wave surfer Laird Hamilton has left an indelible mark on the sport he helped to popularise without turning professional.

Blending astonishing archival footage with intimate access into Laird’s current adventures, Rory Kennedy’s (Last Days in Vietnam, 2014) thrilling documentary charts Hamilton’s unconventional career from early days in Hawaii where surfing became a refuge from an abusive home to international recognition and celebrity.

A tireless innovator, Hamilton distinguished himself from other surfing legends by pushing the conventions of the sport and contriving new methods to reach ever more challenging waves.

This event is screening as part of the Mavericks: Surfing Docs at the IFI season which runs from December 2nd to 3rd 2017. More info here.

Notes by David O’Mahony