It’s nothing today to see kids signing six digit contracts before they can legally drive, but in 1975, it was about scraping together a few bucks for trip to Hawaii for the gnarliest waves of your life. The surfers highlighted in this film though were not heading to The Rock just to grab a few waves. Instead, they were ready to change the surfing world. They did it loudly and with no apologies.
Now, the local Hawaiian culture has always a difficult time accepting aggressive visitors, and the complexity at the core of this conflict is enthralling.
Picture The North Shore of Oahu in 1975. Pristine, natural, and dangerous. Got the image? Now throw a handful of ballsy and boastful Australians and South Africans right into the middle with the first opportunity in history to make a living riding waves.
This early scene’s most forceful rabble-rousers Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew, Ian Cairns, Shaun Tomson, MarK “MR” Richards, and Peter “PT” Townend share exciting and emotional tales from those formative years on the North Shore. What’s really cool is that we get both sides of their story. While some might see the reactive violence from the Hawaiians in this film as lawless aggression, others will recognize and empathize with their perspective. Eddie Rothman and Clyde Aikau offer candid commentary to that effect.
Edward Norton’s narration is bland as dry toast, but the vintage surfing footage is excellent. Ironically, the surfing is not the star of this film. If you want to get a quick shot of stoke for your next session, go get a Taylor Steele movie. Bustin’ Down the Door instead offers something richer: a deep human component. It’s the personalities of these now middle aged businessmen who shine in spinning their stories of those early years. At times, these hardened men break down in tears exploring haunted memories, laugh at the idiocy of youth, and then boast of their competitive exploits.
More than most surf films, Bustin Down the Door provides not just an appreciation for the act of surfing but a gratitude for the opportunity to be a surfer.
