Surfing documentary looks past the cliches to capture a more alluring side of the sport

REVIEW: Veteran filmmaker Taylor Steele’s unorthodox yet alluring Proximity looks beyond the usual surfing documentary cliches.

PROXIMITY (E)

Director: Taylor Steele (Momentum)

Starring: Kelly Slater, John John Florence, Stephanie Gilmore, Craig Anderson.

Rating: three-and-a-half stars

Verdict: The strength that comes from going to water

ATMOSPHERE takes precedence over adrenaline in Proximity, an unorthodox, yet alluring new Australian surfing documentary.

With over 30 features on the open ocean under his belt, veteran filmmaker Taylor Steele certainly knows how to make a splash with whatever he points a camera at.

However, he is ambitiously going after something more lasting here than just the instant rush of waves and wipe-outs.

Indeed, what happens away from the swells for elite international surfers — the down time, the banter, the exposure to exotic cultures — is the primary focus of Proximity.

Surfing documentary Proximity is unorthodox but ultimately alluring.

Steele tracks the movements and charts the contrasting approaches to the surfing lifestyle of four pairs of big-wave riders. To keep enthusiasts of all ages engaged, an established name has been coupled with an up-and-comer or wildcard prospect.

Eleven-time world champ Kelly Slater and current world number one John-John Florence take to their fave Pacific locations. Stephanie Gilmore and Dave Rastovich hit the Baja, Craig Anderson and Rob Machado venture down to South America, and Albee Layer and Shane Dorian explore the beaches of Northern Europe.

Dave Rastovich and Stephanie Gilmore are filmed riding the waves in Mexico.

The conversational component of Proximity blends surprisingly well with the spectacular open-water cinematography. Though the doco will soon be available on home streaming platforms, the cinema really is the way to be seeing it.

A calming, contemplative experience sure to be relished by surf devotees.

Proximity is an unorthodox, yet alluring new Australian surfing documentary.

Proximity screens daily at selected metropolitan and coastal cinemas until Wednesday, May 17

Originally published as Surfing documentary looks past the cliches to capture a more alluring side of the sport