Surfing, as a life saver

Rio Breaks follows 13-year-old Fabio and 12-year-old Naama, who live at Favela do Pavao, the home of the notorious Red Command, one of Rio’s most heavily-armed drug gangs. Pavao is situated near Arpoador Beach, the home of surfing in Rio. The Favela Surf Club gives surfing lessons to the kids from the favela to help them get them away from a life of drugs and crime, and Fabio and Naama are two young hopefuls for an upcoming surf contest. We spoke with Justin Mitchell, the film’s director, producer, co-writer and cinematographer, on the eve of its UK cinema release.

Are you a surfer?

I became a surfer later in life, around 18. I didn’t grow up on the beach, but inland in the Valley, but I’ve always loved the ocean. As a surfer I loved surf films and collected every DVD.

Surf porn…

For sure. I was working in documentary, mainly focussed in music. I did a lot of music documentaries and music videos, which was my other love that I could relate to. I’d always had an idea in the back of my head that if you decide to make a film – and the energy that’s going to go into this big project – I like to have a connection to it – or a reference or starting point. You don’t have to be an expert at it, or the most knowledgeable person, but for me it is better to come at a project that way rather than, “I know nothing about this subject. I’m going to go explore it.”

Read all of the interview with Justin Mitchell in Issue 28 of Film & Festivals

www.riobreaks.com

 

Rio Breaks (2009) – Justin Mitchell & Vince Medeiros – Trailer from Mr Bongo on Vimeo.