Drift
2013 · Directed by Morgan O'Neill, Ben Nott
Original language: English
- drama
The story
In the 70s two brothers battle killer waves, conservative society and ruthless bikers to kick-start the modern surf industry.
What it’s like
Sun-bleached 1970s Australian coastline, with saturated blues of open water against warm, dusty browns of beach towns and roadside motels. The surf photography leans on fast, close handheld shots of spray and barrelling walls of water, and the camera stays in the churn long enough to feel the cold and the pull. Between sessions the palette softens into faded seventies interiors, orange vinyl and wood panelling, with a retro rock-and-folk soundtrack that spikes with the ocean and drops away to wind and gulls. The tone is earnest and sun-struck, with a rough, working-class energy that never quite settles. Its pacing alternates between bursts of exhilarating water action and slower stretches of family friction and money worries. Intensity is moderate: the sea is dangerous and the sequences are tense, there are scuffles and some threatening biker violence, but nothing is graphic or gory. The story follows two brothers who are bonded and divided by ambition, drifting toward a risky dream. It suits a sunny weekend afternoon or a restless evening for people who enjoy sports dramas about ocean obsession, retro Australian settings, and rough-edged, big-sky adventure.
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