Andy Irons: Kissed by God

This is the best documentary I've seen since Meru came out a few years back. It's increadibly powerful and will show you the highs and lows of Andy's amazing life. It also informs people about the opioid epidemic that is ruining individuals and their loved ones lives.

My brother was diagnosed with bipolar disorder a few years ago and I myself feel I also suffer from bipolar disorder, though I was never told that by a physician. I know what it's like to go from having a great day to wanting to just end it all in a matter of minutes. I like Andy, turned to self medication (no opioids) to relieve the constant feeling of depression, anger and basically no self esteem.

Anyway enough about me, it's just utterly amazing how someone bipolar that is constantly self medicating with hard drugs can be a 3X world champion. It's an astonishing feat, I just wish he could have fought off the demons and lived a somewhat normal life.

RIP Andy, the pain is now gone.

Wow! Saw this today and it was gripping. The battles with Kelly Slater, the battles with his addictions, the battles with bipolar disorder.

Some great interviews with other surfers and with Andy's family and a lot of insight into the surfing culture of the early 2000's.

Also interesting seeing the battle between the Hawaiian surfer versus the California surfer.

Worth watching even if you are not a surfer.

I was lucky enough to see this film early at the World Premier in NYC. I am a surfer and followed surfing from an early age but up until this film I have never seen a film go into such intimate detail to effectively tell a story about surfing and give an inside look at one of the best surfers in the world and the struggle that he went through behind the scenes. His brother, Bruce Irons, and his wife, Lyndie, do not hold back at all in describing the details of not only Andy's life, but also the life of a professional surfer. This is more than a surf film. It transcends surfing and is a story that everyone should see, as we have all know or have known someone who has dealt with mental illness and addiction.

I saw Andy Irons place his feet in cement at the Huntington Beach Surfing Walk of Fame and found his somewhat bashful manner endearing. I knew nothing of his struggles and was surprised when I learned of his death. This movie reveals his struggles along with his triumphs intelligently and interestingly. It's a well done documentary by any measure. And has some fantastic surfing sequences!