THE DRIFTER [02.11.2009] Category: Surf film

"We dream of the perfect wave, the perfect job, the perfect house. When we get there, we dream of something else...." - Rob Machado


THE DRIFTER
A review by THE COLT


I've watched The Drifter 3 times already and get something new from it every time. We watch films, but how often do we actually hear and see a film for all that it is? The Drifter is a degustation for the senses, with every part of the film being A-class.

Steele has pulled out all stops on The Drifter,  bringing together all the magic he's spent years developing into this epic release. Unlike your standard surf flick, Steele has created a film about a surfer, Rob Machado and his surfing journey we all wish we were a part of.

Starting with Rob's epiphany in the surf mecha Bali, you're confronted with the true essence of Kuta and what we've all come to love and hate about the place. It's here that Machado begins his journey through to one of Indonesia's outermost reaches with nothing but a surfboard, his journal and a tent. Along the way you meet amazing people and special characters. You witness surfing magic (Machado dancing on water), laugh at an ill-fated motorcycle purchase, feel the passion behind his decision to delay his return to California, and for Machado fans, you get a deeper understanding and insight as to what's going in his mind.


(At the risk of being labeled weird I'm going to throw it out there)...You’re taken on a journey and not just the physical type…this one stirs your soul as you watch Machado embark on a dope spiritual journey that has one ambition...to surf alone and find your self.

"It's déjà vu all over again… Surfing seems to the only thing that keeps me sane". It's this 'Ed Norton, Fight Club' narrative style that really sets The Drifter apart from other surf films. Steele is a huge fan of Fight Club (as we found out in an interview we did awhile back) and this film showcases a cluster of synergies. Great if you love Fight Club, and even better if you like Machado. As a big fan of them both, I’m frothing.

I won't spoil your chance to journey through this amazing film by sharing all the details, but rather I’d like to tell you why I believe this film is one of the best surf films to date...

The Cinematography is all-time, and Steele should be commended. He's brought in some incredible new angles and editing techniques that I haven't seen in a surf film before. Using his golden eye, he brings a creative edge to the film that even top Hollywood directors would appreciate. The way the surfing has been shot will have you mesmerized, and feeling like you're right there in the moment. You'll witness Machado's super smooth style, against breathtaking waves that don't have a drop of water out of place. Pure magic.

Mix in a festival for the ears sound track with musicians like Jon Swift, Rob Machado, Stardeath & White Dwarfs, The Black Keys, By The Fireside, The Raconteurs, Midlake, Iron & Wine, Tegan & Sara, Jon and Roy, The Len Brown Society, Dr. Dog, Brett Dennen, Bon Iver, Jose Gonzalez, MGMT, Yeasayer and The Shins. The soundtrack alone is worth getting a hold of. (A taste of the tracks below...)


So I'll point out that the film doesn't contain loads of surfing, but that's not what they (Steele and Machado) set out to achieve and it's this difference that had me glued to the screen from start to finish. It's fresh and it’s new and it’s something many of us have been crying out for. Surfer or not, you'll get something out of this film. Whether it's the amazing cinematography, well crafted editing or the spiritual, soul-searching journey, you'll want to be a part of it.

Ok so you get that I love it... and if I look at it a little less personally and passionately I admit the film isn’t flawless, but it’s raw and it’s honest. Sure it's hard to call it 'raw and honest' when there's a huge production crew following Rob around trying to capture everything so perfectly, but that doesn't take away from the films overall feeling and offering. Sure it could have been done with a hand held camera for the raw appeal, but it's the amazing cinematography and professional cuts that make it such a viewing pleasure.

No doubt there’ll be the standard crew of haters out there looking for mistakes and issues. You know who they are... and you know what they’re gonna say... “That's not soul searching when you have a camera crew following" or "I’m not going to see the film” Why? “Because I live it already..." We all live it in some way or another, but it's a gorgeous vision when you see it through the eyes of one of the greatest surfers and film makers of all time. I for one, connected with this film, having done some ‘drifting’ myself through the mountains of Peru, surfing through Chile and hiking through Patagonia, I'm sure a lot of others will also strongly relate. 

In my humble opinion, I’d say an older audience (18+) will  maybe appreciate the film more, only for the fact it’s about finding inner peace. Something we tend to do more of as we get older, when we’ve had enough of the daily grind and we go searching for the chance to re-connect with that person inside of us. Deep down we all have a bit of 'The Drifter' that wants to be heard.

It's a special film that while categorised as a surf film, offers so much more. You know how much I love it, now see it for yourself and let us know what you think.


FILM HI-LIGHTS
1. First wave of the film - An awesome pulled back angled shot of Rob pulling into an 8-10sec perfect barrel. Ultra smooth and looks amazing.

2. Rob's amusing 'Taksi' ride, followed by his new found relationship with his new best friend...the bike.

3. The lonely boat ride - The filming is amazing in this section, no music, just a few local sounds. It's eerie and powerful.

4. Finding out he has a personal body guard from a local village.

5. Scoring Desert point at the end. Epic smooth pits that have you drooling for more.


QUOTES
Much of the dialogue in The Drifter is taken from Rob's own personal journals. According to respected surf journalist Nathan Myers, who co-wrote the movie, there is nothing embellished in Rob's candid, heart-felt passages. Here's a taste...

"One day I decided to paddle alone between these two islands, and half way across I found myself too tired to continue. I stopped paddling and just sat there. [pause] I've never felt so insignificant in my whole life."

"Some times when you're most alone, you're not alone at all..."

"We dream of the perfect wave, the perfect job, the perfect house. When we get there, we dream of something else...."

"In Indo - where you are, is part of who you are..."

"I don't really know what to call home anymore. If I had to pick a place I guess it'd be the ocean. It's where I feel the most comfortable and I can just be myself."

"Surfing is basically a pretty selfish activity. We ride waves because it feels... really good. That's about it. But, in the course of chasing waves, sometimes we're given the opportunity to give something back. And somehow - don't ask me how, it seems to make the next waves we ride so much better."

And his classic mobile phone message:
"Hey this is Rob's phone. I don't know where I am right now. In fact no body does. Don't worry about it."

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