Bustin' Down The Door
Encyclopedia
Bustin' Down The Door is a 2008 documentary film
chronicling the rise of professional surfing
in the early 1970s. The film follows a group of young surfers from Australia
and South Africa
, including Shaun Tomson
, Wayne 'Rabbit' Bartholomew
, Ian Cairns
, Mark Richards
, Michael Tomson and Peter Townend
, as they relocate to Hawaii
encountering obstacles, turf wars and massive wipeouts along the way. Clashes with the locals, some of whom find the newcomers' bravado to be insulting to Hawaiian culture
, eventually culminate in death threats against the subjects of the film.
, The Stooges
, Eels
, Leonard Cohen
and Them Terribles
. The Original Score was composed by Stuart Michael Thomas
, Riding Giants
and Five Summer Stories
in the primo category of surf movies that rip onscreen and tell a great story". Shannon Kelley Gould of the Santa Barbara Independent
writes that the picture "...Delivered on all sorts of levels. Not just a great surf movie, but a GREAT movie."
In addition, pro surfer Kelly Slater
calls it "...a breakout film. Bustin' Down the Door shows what happens during the most critical period in our sport's history when ego and historical problems clash."
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
chronicling the rise of professional surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
in the early 1970s. The film follows a group of young surfers from Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, including Shaun Tomson
Shaun Tomson
Shaun Tomson is a South African professional surfer and former world champion, environmentalist, actor, author and businessman.-Life and career:...
, Wayne 'Rabbit' Bartholomew
Wayne Bartholomew
Wayne 'Rabbit' Bartholomew AM is an Australian surfer and order of Australia recipient who won the World Surfing Championship in 1978, 1999 and 2003...
, Ian Cairns
Ian Cairns
Ian Cairns is a former champion surfer who was also influential in establishing the world professional surfing circuit and particularly the World Championship Tour....
, Mark Richards
Mark Richards (surfer)
Mark Richards , known as MR, is an Australian surfer, five time world champion , and highly respected by his peers.In 2000 Mark was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his service to Surf Riding.- Youth :...
, Michael Tomson and Peter Townend
Peter Townend (surfer)
- Early Surfing Years :Townend was born in Coolangatta, Queensland , was considered to be one of the best surfers in the world throughout the 70's and 80's. Some however might argue that the competition was a lot less competitive and the surf tours were loosely planned, none-the-less his title...
, as they relocate to Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
encountering obstacles, turf wars and massive wipeouts along the way. Clashes with the locals, some of whom find the newcomers' bravado to be insulting to Hawaiian culture
Culture of Hawaii
The culture of Hawaii has its origins in the traditional culture of the Native Hawaiians. As Hawaii has become home to many different ethnic groups during the past 200 years, each ethnic group has added elements of its own culture...
, eventually culminate in death threats against the subjects of the film.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack includes music by David BowieDavid Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, The Stooges
The Stooges
The Stooges are an American rock band from Ann Arbor, Michigan first active from 1967 to 1974, and later reformed in 2003...
, Eels
Eels (band)
Eels is an American indie rock band formed by singer/songwriter Mark Oliver Everett, better known as E...
, Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
and Them Terribles
Them Terribles
-History:In 2001, while juniors in high school, cousins Jonny Black and Hunter Black formed a band under the name "Standard Issue" along with current Them Terribles lead singer Matt Green. Jonny recruited Joey Benenati, a fellow student at Santa Barbara High School to play drums...
. The Original Score was composed by Stuart Michael Thomas
Stuart Michael Thomas
-Biography:Stuart Michael Thomas is an American music composer, producer and arranger for film and television. He has been a credited contributor to dozens of films including Michael Clayton, RV, The Lookout and Duplicity as well as TV films such as High Noon, Northern Lights, and Angels Fall. He...
Reviews
Variety gave the movie a positive review saying, the picture "is certain to rank alongside Step Into LiquidStep Into Liquid
Step into Liquid is a documentary about surfing directed by Dana Brown, son of famed surfer and filmmaker Bruce Brown. The film includes surfing footage from the famous Pipeline, the beaches of Vietnam, and some of the world's largest waves, at Cortes Bank...
, Riding Giants
Riding Giants
Riding Giants is a 2004 documentary film directed and narrated by Stacy Peralta, a famous skater/surfer who helped define modern skateboarding. The movie traces the origins of surfing and specifically focuses on the art of big wave riding...
and Five Summer Stories
Five Summer Stories
Five Summer Stories is a surfing film by Jim Freeman and Greg MacGillivray starring David Nuuhiwa, Eddie Aikau, Gerry Lopez, and Sam Hawk. It was released in 1972. The soundtrack is by Honk....
in the primo category of surf movies that rip onscreen and tell a great story". Shannon Kelley Gould of the Santa Barbara Independent
Santa Barbara Independent
The Santa Barbara Independent is a news, arts, and entertainment newspaper published every Thursday in Santa Barbara, California.-History:The paper was founded in November 1986...
writes that the picture "...Delivered on all sorts of levels. Not just a great surf movie, but a GREAT movie."
In addition, pro surfer Kelly Slater
Kelly Slater
Robert Kelly Slater is an American professional surfer known for his competitive prowess and style. He has been crowned ASP World Champion a record 11 times, including 5 consecutive titles from 1994–98. He is the youngest and the oldest to win the title...
calls it "...a breakout film. Bustin' Down the Door shows what happens during the most critical period in our sport's history when ego and historical problems clash."