Surfing, whether you’re being judged or not, is a creative endeavor. Style is important. The “wave is the canvas” cliche is a cliche for a reason: surfers make art when they’re riding a wave. Especially surfers like the ones involved in the newly released short film SunSong.
“Against the backdrop of Cloudbreak and the surrounding islands, a group of surfers reveal how instinct, inspiration and imagination shape the way we ride the wave,” reads the description. “At the heart of the film is 17-year-old Fijian surfer James Kusitino, whose surfing first inspired the project.”
Kustino is, somewhat surprisingly, a sort of first-generation Fijian surfer who has made a real mark on Cloudbreak. In a world where one’s style is often just a copy of someone else’s, Kustino surfs like only Kustino.
“Influenced by many of the film’s cast, his own surfing is unmistakably original,” the caption continued. “Produced by Spearhead Unlimited, the creative platform founded by Mikey February to champion experimentation, collaboration and creative freedom in surfing, SunSong approaches surfing through a broader cultural lens, where music, art and place are as important as the waves themselves.”
Featuring a soundtrack with a few legendary South African musicians like Hugh Masakela (yes, Selema’s dad) and Letta Mbulu, it’s more than just a surf film. It’s a film about life, with surfing as the glue. Kusitino is joined by Mikey February, Frankie Harrer, Kobe Hughes, Lungi Slabb, and Tosh Tudor. Can you name a more stylish group of surfers?
