By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
IT WAS the film that forever changed the way the world thought about surfing.
Albert Falzon’s innovative 1972 work Morning of the Earth helped convey the surfing lifestyle as a surfing cinema classic that still evokes the unique spirit of surf culture and music.
A brand new Australian film, Spirit of Akasha, recalls the Morning of the Earth ethos as it blends music with the surfing of world champions such as Mick Fanning, Stephanie Gilmore, Tom Curren, Kelly Slater and Beau Young.
With Australian surf film-maker Andrew Kidman as its producer, the new film had as a mentor Falzon himself.
Kidman was rapt to work on the film.
“Doing a sequel to Morning of the Earth was a massive challenge and honour,” he enthused.
“It gave us all an incredible window into the surfing culture at the time coupled with great music by the best Aussie musos.
“Following it up was such an interesting idea when we started thinking about it. We knew there was no point trying to remake it but we wanted to do something that honours in the spirit of it.”
Kidman said Spirit of Akasha had collected an array of contemporary artists to recreate the breadth and scope of the original Morning of the Earth soundtrack.
“There are still so many people who just go out and enjoy a surf every day and don’t pay any mind to any of the mainstreaming of the surfing culture these days,” he noted.
“This is about recapturing the spirit of the day and seeing if that spirit is still alive today.
“The joy of a great wave for ordinary surfers is no different to the greats.”
The new film will get audiences back to the roots of surfing culture at Surfworld Museum Torquay from 21 to 24 April, probably coincideing with the finals of the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach. It also screens at Village Geelong on 27 April.
“It’s a nice way to lose yourself for an hour and a half,” Kidman said.
