Splinters

As a surfer and a fan of surf films, this is one of the best documentaries on surfing I have ever seen. The stories behind the lives of these villagers are so well told, and the areas in which the director chose to focus gave an added understanding of the experiences within the village of Vanimo. This film is a rare little gem in which you may walk out of the theater speechless, thinking about the fate of the people in the film, feeling thankful to have a glimpse into such an exotic corner of the globe, and best of all, hopeful about the future of those you are rooting for in the film. The captivating experience is feeling the universal joy that unites surfers around the world, from all walks of life. Adam Pesce captures it beautifully.

Adam did a fantastic job with this film. Traveling and studying the Middle East for 5 years, I've seen first hand what the power of sports can do to inspire individuals to become who they are. Now I work with non profits all over Los Angeles using sports to engage lower income youth. Surfing is one of them and his film shows that both in Paupa New Guinea and Los Angeles surfing is a powerful form of inspiration and hope. This film itself is fantastic as your transported into the life of a Paupan. Embedded in the film are elements of the culture that both reflect past and present, including surfing, ways of life. Go see this film if you want both a new perspective on surfing and culture.

The film beautifully captures village life and tells a great story about people who live a simple life but have truly life changing dreams that could be made possible by surfing. I love the adventurous nature of surfers that means it reaches a place like Vanimo, which is a remote part of a remote country.

As a Papua New Guinean woman I went to this film hopeful but admittedly with a bit of trepidation. So often the country is portrayed in such a negative light but I loved this film. I'm so pleased the film makers didn't patronise or use tired stereotypes just to make a film about surfing. The issues treated by the film...opportunities (or lack thereof), family and clan politics, the role of women, domestic abuse, alcohol abuse, being 'big headed', and so many others can be extrapolated to the whole country. I'm glad the film shows the discussion  about these themes between Papua New Guineans, the dated and modern views, and not westerners trying to educate the natives. It also shows the power surfing could have to help change attitudes. It's a really well paced film that follows characters you want to know more about and root for, in a beautiful place that you rarely get to see. 

In a nutshell, highly recommend seeing this film!

With the democratization of filmmaking, almost anyone with access to filmmaking technology can generate a film. So when I learned Director Adam Pesce moved to Papua New Guinea, learned pigeon English and started shooting, I knew this was not just another surfer's stab at self-aggrandizing You Tube stardom. Plus, the film's website is a platform for all sorts of awards and acknowledgments from the film festival circuit, so I have some back up on this stance.

This documentary is extremely well done. Both aesthetically and narratively.

And subjectively, I say that by taking in to account the distinct dynamic native to Papua New Guinea, the dialogue & story which unfolds on the screen and the circumstances I learned later via researching the film about the bouts of malaria endured by the Director, etc. Briefly, the film showcases the universal struggles one engages in when practical needs conflict with dreams and ideals of a better life. Surfing is the conduit of hope and also the bittersweet weapon of control and revenge. Watch the film to figure out how and why.

My wife and I enjoyed "Splinters" at O Cinema in Miami, FL. The documentary is fascinating because it is rich in layers of story telling. The protagonists' passion for Surfing and their social relationships are covered very well. I was able to learn about surfing and the people Papua New Guinea (their culture and social changes). The movie has an emotional impact of the viewer because it is ultimately about people wanting to reach a dream and be great. This is an feeling that is universal. The movie captivated me the entire time and even gave me the desire to know even more about the future of each character. Is is great to see how similar people are even when separated by thousands of miles. Don't miss this perfect combination of history and entertainment.