pt.II DOCUMENTARY

ABOUT

"The waves in themselves filled me with passion and terrified me. I became absorbed by the willful tsunamis and swells of the Chilean ocean. I became an expert on cetaceans, sea snails, zoophytes, in jellyfish and in all species of the marine."


Pablo Neruda (1904-1973) Chilean poet, Diplomat, Political figure & 1971 Nobel Prize Laureate for Literature.


This documentary marks the (r)evolutionary return of Australian 'free-surfer' Dave Rastovich to Chile. Dave is an internationally acclaimed free-surfer and activist as seen in the academy award winning documentary- The Cove. By using his surfing celebrity Dave continues his mission to spread the word to save marine mammals, and surf three thousand kilometers of Chile's coastline in lead up to the International Whaling Commission conference in Chile's capital Santiago, in the process meeting up with the worlds top surfers on the increasingly popular world-class surf breaks of Chile.


Following the journey we discover how Chile's current land and sea struggles are more understandable when put in the context of Chilean history. The military government (1973-1989) ending the government of Salvador Allende carried out political, economic, social and administrative reforms as part of a modernization plan directly resulting in the current day over-exploitation of the nations natural recourses. Despite this, we discover a people still deeply connected to the sea and learn how the sea occupies a mystical, poetic, conscious and unconscious place in the fabric of Chilean culture.


We meet Chile through the adventures of these whale surfers as their trek gains momentum in rallying up support. We meet the people of the sea struggling to protect their livelihoods. We meet Chilean surfers who want to protect the marine and coastal habitat of their cherished coastline recently destroyed by a massive earthquake and tsunami. We meet the resilient indigenous communities who continue to struggle for their heritage.


Can these crusaders armed with surfboards create change and continue the connection of soul, land and sea? Can they uphold the principals that Pablo Neruda describes as the quintessential search of modern man - to seek harmony with the natural world.