by Joe Hammerschmidt
[Note: This film reviewed as part of the 2018 Seattle International Film Festival]
Any film festival will be more than open to treat your senses, not just to a few big-name films, but also to so many smaller films that will be harder to track down post-festival, namely on purpose. A niche film involving drama between amateur surfers and an awkward teenage awakening subplot oddly reminiscent of The Graduate, its core audience is all but assured, in one small theater, for one short week. While the product itself is a little iffy and may be worth just waiting for an eventual VOD bow, there’s no denying the promise of under-the-radar cinema bringing certainly overlooked pleasantness, through a pet project from Aussie actor and first-time feature director Simon Baker, his quasi-childhood ode Breath.
The man best known to American audiences for his seven-year stint on The Mentalist expands his filmmaking muscle, adapting Tim Winton’s bestselling novel for a beautifully shot adventure of youthful innocence and discovery, all against the backdrop of lush surfing area on the NSW coast, and the optimism of two best friends purveying each obstacle with a hesitant confidence. Summer in the mid-70s for small-town kids Pikelet (Samson Coulter) and Loonie (Ben Spence), hungry for a little danger, a lot of excitement in their otherwise quiet lives. They live for the surf, which leads to a common bond friendship with the elusive Sando (Baker), a former pro in his field, with multiple wins on his belt and an eagerness to spread the wealth. The only downside, he leaves his loyal yet unsatisfied girlfriend (Elizabeth Debicki) behind every time, tending to their secret abode. Of course, here is where the story takes just the weirdest turn, where like a certain big budget blockbuster hitting 4000 theaters this weekend, the film completely veers off course, the very moment Pikelet is left alone with Sando’s girl, again ala The Graduate, with all the potential for lessons learned, hearts broken, and secrets hidden from plain view.
One singular moment which derails an otherwise subtle glimpse of a hidden subculture from a time long faded in memory, its focus still consistent on its thematic origin, thanks in no small part to Rick Rifici’s spot-on underwater cinematography, the tonal compass by which the rest of the film thrives or flounders on its own weight. Until the extensive third act, we can feel some relief on the former. Everything else to that point’s golden, Baker’s expert direction, Coulter’s commanding lead performance, and even Richard Roxburgh’s reserved yet professional turn as the disapproving old-school dad unable to relate with his own family.
The core influence Baker stands by, despite the innocuousness of that third-act shift, as with the brotherhood split between Sando and his young pupils, that sensibility of a thrill only achieved at a young age, helped greatly by Winton’s own narration at key points. When combined with the hypnotic shooting style, it comes ever so close to a home run. The doubtfulness of Baker’s own execution nearly derails the ride by the time those stronger adult themes come into play. During its SIFF play, it had been billed as an acceptable teen-friendly film, and one may agree in terms of its subject matter, once more, until a pivotal scene of consummation. A strong sense of maturity on the viewer is a small must; otherwise, it will be impossible to take the sin seriously.
Simon’s desire for a conflicting mesh of emotion may not sit well with some as it could with others. Since I hadn’t read the book, I can’t compare too fairly. At the very least, his passion for the source material can be felt. Yet his approach may just leave viewers on the receiving end gasping for air, unable to follow along. It’d be easy to say Breath excels in what it accomplishes correctly, and I hope you’ll enjoy the final product more than I did. Its jagged thematic shifts and imbalanced empathy toward character development should be nothing more than little annoyances, yet the rough patches they create can’t just be overlooked. Surfing enthusiasts will be pleased nonetheless, as will fans of Baker’s prior works, proud in his attempts to tell a convincing story. It may not be enough, however, to seek out a few choice waves and take up the sport; good luck trying to find any community of that sort here in the PNW. (C+)
Breath plays for a week-long engagement at the SIFF Film Center beginning today, Friday 6/22; no US rating; 116 minutes.
