Surfwise (2007)
82%RT Audience Score: 65%
Awards & Nominations: 3 nominations
An intriguing account of a unique family
Surfwise is a documentary that will make you want to grab a surfboard and hit the waves, or maybe just hug your parents a little tighter. The story of a family of nomadic surfers is fascinating, but the real star of the show is the eccentric patriarch who dropped out to follow his dream. The film offers a cautionary tale about parenting, homeschooling, and sibling rivalries, but also shows the endlessly creative offspring who grew up in this unique environment. You can’t stop watching, but every fiber of your being is still shouting, “Put the goddamn camera down!
Production Company(ies)
Audiovisual Development Bureau, Ministerio da Cultura BEI Comunicações Bahiatursa
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language and some sexual material
Year of Release
2008
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.78 : 1
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Jul 29, 2008
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, surfing, family, homeschooling, nomadic, eccentric, parenting, sibling rivalry, sacrifice, obsession, harmony, plank of wood, camper-schooling, Graydon Carter, Tommy Means, Jonathan Paskowitz, Matt Weaver, Doug Pray, Todd Wagner, Mark Cuban, Joana Vicente, Jason Kliot, R rating, Dolby Digital, $268.6K box office, reviewed by Drew Toal, Hank Sartin, Lisa Schwarzbaum, Andrea Gronvall, Joe Leydon, Steven Rea, Felicia Feaster, Mike D’Angelo, Marty Mapes, Robert Roten, Nora Lee Mandel, Christian Toto, starring Dorian “Doc” Paskowitz, directed by Doug Pray, written by Doug Pray
Worldwide gross: $318,478
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $438,691
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,767
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 47,840
US/Canada gross: $269,994
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $371,906
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,408
US/Canada opening weekend: $10,304
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $14,193
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,618
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $127,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $174,938
Production budget ranking: 2,135
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $94,204
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $169,550
ROI to date (est.): 63%
ROI ranking: 1,084
Doug Pray – Writer
Todd Wagner – Executive Producer
Mark Cuban – Executive Producer
Joana Vicente – Executive Producer
Jason Kliot – Executive Producer
Dorian “Doc” Paskowitz – Self
Juliette Paskowitz – Self
David Paskowitz – Self
Jonathan Paskowitz – Self
Abraham Paskowitz – Self
Israel Paskowitz – Self
Maurice Paskowitz – Self
Adam Paskowitz – Self
Salvador Paskowitz – Self
Navah Paskowitz – Self
Joshua Paskowitz – Self
Daniel Paskowitz – Self
Matt Weaver – Producer
Director(s)
Doug Pray
Writer(s)
Doug Pray
Producer(s)
Graydon Carter, Tommy Means, Jonathan Paskowitz, Matt Weaver
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
3 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (46) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (45) | Rotten (1)
November 18, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Drew Toal
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Hank Sartin
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
September 7, 2011 | Rating: A-
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
The fallout decades later provides the drama in this documentary by Doug Pray, who lets his eccentric octogenarian subject off a little too easy.
December 17, 2008
Andrea Gronvall
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
A provocative documentary about a man who dropped out to follow a dream that gradually evolved into something not unlike a nightmare.
July 18, 2008 | Rating: 3/4
Joe Leydon
Houston Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Not just the story of one man’s obsessive quest to find harmony on a plank of wood, Surfwise offers a cautionary tale about parenting, homeschooling (camper-schooling, actually), sibling rivalries and family sacrifice.
June 26, 2008 | Rating: 3.5/4
Steven Rea
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
[A] wonderful, captivating documentary.
January 28, 2020
Felicia Feaster
Charleston City Paper
You can’t stop watching, but every fiber of your being is still shouting, “Put the goddamn camera down!”
October 17, 2018
Mike D’Angelo
Esquire Magazine
New Bohemian lifestyle: good, bad, or neutral?
April 21, 2009 | Rating: 3.5/4
Marty Mapes
Movie Habit
This documentary about a famous family of nomadic surfers is fascinating not only because of the certifiable oddball patriarch, but also because of his endlessly creative offspring.
February 11, 2009 | Rating: B
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope
Intriguing family story of the sunny and dark sides of extreme home-schooling by surfing, through a trove of photos, home movies, and reminiscences, but little insight.
December 7, 2008 | Rating: 6/10
Nora Lee Mandel
Film-Forward.com
Surfwise will make you hug your parents a little harder the next time you see them.
December 4, 2008 | Rating: 3/4
Christian Toto
What Would Toto Watch?…
Plot
The inspiring and tumultuous story of 85-year old surfer, health advocate and sex guru, Dr. Dorian “Doc” Paskowitz, his wife Juliette, and their nine children who were all home-schooled and raised in a small camper on the beach, where they surfed and had to adhere to the strict diet and lifestyle of animals in the wild.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t have anything goofy or funny to say about Surfwise, but they do mention that the documentary features Dorian “Doc” Paskowitz and his family, who raised their large brood in a 24-foot camper and spent their time surfing.
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