Watch: The Road To Patagonia - trailer
Not strictly a surf film, I've really no idea what genre The Road To Patagonia falls into. It does, however, have surfing in it, and it also has the what's-over-the-next-headland sense of adventure found on any good surf trip.
The film tour starts shortly, click here for dates and times.
Comments
Please can someone just make a Documentary thats just an adventure without always shoving Climate/Human catastrophe in our faces. Show me some great waves, cool places and some warm locals.
Yep - we all know this stuff exists, but I dont have to see it EVERY TIME a doco is made.
Even David Attenbrough is guilty of this. (Just show me the Polar bear hunting a seal David without a lecture on climate change)
If I want to see the evils of humanity, I have CNN/Fox/60 Minutes and the ABC already.
Most people would rather die than think, and many do.
Bertrand Russell.
Sounds like you want to be part of that club, Gowsa.
The nutty thing is that its a happy and uplifting film - I saw it at Byron Bay and walked out of their feeling lighter.
This thread and your contributions are way more overbearing and miserable.
The answer is it's a documentary.
You could just watch every other surf film by the big companies for what you are after.
There's some great interviews with David Attenborough wishes he went harder on the climate change side or things until recently and that he left it to late.
Are you talking about the references in the trailer to the Mapuche people of Chile and their particular views? It would be pretty insulated and insensitive to make a documentary about the road to Patagonia without getting some perspective from the indigenous inhabitants of that area, so I'm not really sure what you are complaining about.
"I don't have to see it."
Mate, unless someone carries you into the theatre and forces your eyelids open like Alex in A Clockwork Orange, then no, you don't have to see it.
“Is it better for a man to have chosen evil than to have good imposed upon him?”
Nah.
Glad they looked after the horses though.
Watched it last night in Byron, fantastic adventure Doco and I personally liked the reference to climate, lost indigenous cultures and spiritual awakening. If you want to sleep walk through life Gowsa with nothing to see here attitude, just go find your mob and discuss non important stuff & that.
IM not sleep walking through life...
There's just a time and Place for the preaching is all Im saying.
Every Doco doesnt need to have a social message....
And NO Stu - I wont be seeing it. Lifes to short to see the same story over and over again.
Greta has a lot to answer for - Shes stealing the joy from everything. MY hopes and dreams for fun filled adventure surf movie have been destroyed.
Jeez Gowsa
How can you critique the film when you havn't seen it?
The majority of surf films just have surf and that's it, awesome stuff.
What Matt also touched on was mens mental health and my 22 year old son commented on how important this usually taboo subject is now becoming more normalised through films such as Patagonia. Matt wanted to share his story in hope that people can relate to the difficulties he has experienced personally and highlight his observations regarding climate/indigenous cultures being buried. I personally do not choose to be a passenger on these important topics and by the way, you are the architect of the Gowsa adventures so chin up and get stuck in.
It’s not preaching it’s trying to get people with their head stuck in the sand to wake to reality and reflect on what they can do to contribute to making this planet a better place. The constant messaging will continue in an optimistic effort to get heads pulled out of the sand. You are experiencing a very common human condition called cognitive dissonance, the discomfort triggered by a persons belief clashing with new information perceived, where the person tries to find a way to resolve the contradiction to reduce the discomfort (eg. Head in the sand) Good luck with that.
Most people get their news from reputable sources (Left & right wing channels/papers)
IN this digital age very few have people have their head stuck in the sand.
In fact I would suggest you broaden your horizons.
If home made surf movies by a hippie on a motorbike is where you get your information on world politics, then happy to lend you a shovel so you can dig yourself out of the sandpit
We are talking about Mens mental Health, Climate issues, Habitat destruction and Loss of indigenous culture. These topics can be bland without the gravy and marketing topics is most effective when mixed with popular culture such is surfing. I was planning to ride a motorbike from Timor to Sumatra if you would like to sponsorship a hippie?
Sometimes it isn't about information, a wise person once said "as good as it is to be informed, it takes a story to change attitudes".
Sad but true John, Nailed it.
Sad but true John, Nailed it.
Sad but true John, Nailed it.
It’s not preaching it’s trying to get people with their head stuck in the sand to wake to reality and reflect on what they can do to contribute to making this planet a better place. The constant messaging will continue in an optimistic effort to get heads pulled out of the sand. You are experiencing a very common human condition called cognitive dissonance, the discomfort triggered by a persons belief clashing with new information perceived, where the person tries to find a way to resolve the contradiction to reduce the discomfort (eg. Head in the sand) Good luck with that.
No doubt all organic but funded by $800 patagucci puffy jacket wearers driving around Yallingup, Avalon and Byron in 300 series landcruisers
Ironic
This
Oh yes the hypocrites right?
Like the rednecks who love camping in the national parks, don't want to pay any taxes, wave a chinese made Australian flag but spout the USA freedom line? Works both ways doesn't it.
I rode my pushy to see it btw and yeah I have some old Patagonia stuff from a seconds store but don't judge those that have different means to me.
Yes, hypocrites. You got it one, well done.
The southern tip of South America was named Patagonia by Ferdinand Magellan (a Portugese explorer) in 1520, quite some time before the advent of the clothing brand.
For transparency, the film is 100% independent, with no brands attached to its production (except for some small-time gear sponsorships: boards, tent, etc). The journey was funded with hard-earned savings of the working class variety, and gritty budgets. Thanks for asking.
utterly bizarre there's any need to justify. It's a film... a very hard thing to create, make and release. (guaranteed the last film the cynics saw was some hyped Hollywood number... proceeds going to endangered frogs?)
it's not even pushing a strong 'climate change' agenda, rather that man continuing to fark the planet up through greed and relentless growth and development, development, development . And trying to raise people's awareness of the impacts of this on some Indigenous peoples' traditional lands and cultures. Just a snapshot of the global problem
Global problem, yes. It's in everyones best interest to listen to these points of view even if you think you've heard it all before. We have been and are continuing to do damage to the planet that sustains us. In most cases it's for profit, monetary gain, not to just be able to live. We can all play a part to enable change in and to a sustainable future but it will take a prolonged campaign, big companies don't like you treating their "right"? to make a profit.
future of the world, future of our nation. nailing it gnomen
?si=NZjCeMw1xMZhlzkuHeads in the sand. A failure to act and a uncontrollable desire to consume with out conscious thought above all else. Modern man and man in general can only blame himself for the outcomes as they present themselves. And the inability to be malleable to an increasingly global problem that will only continue to grow if we fail to take charge.
There will be many a exploitation to look back on of mother earths inflicted history. Generation to generation, leaderships to leaderships. Fashions to fashions. But by then those inactions will be irrelevant and irreversible. No point in saying change is needed if you don't implement it. From oil rigs in the bight, to larger cars and puffer jackets at a premium. Fashion and consumerism won't save the world but it will sure will fit in for the short time we are here.
The realities are glaring obvious already. Unless we keep our heads in the sand. Consumerism is killing us, we can't get enough of it or the industries and global economies that promote and encourage it. We have been encouraged, coached and moulded into thinking this way (basic capitalism). Maybe if more people voted with their feet and actually gave a fuck what the simplistic footprint was we would be looking at a brighter future regarding climate and our environments both local and global.
We have the technology and knowledge but as usual it's dollars and power before people, climate and environment. In the end it always and was up to the individual humanistic choice of what they truly desire or want to consume be it short term or long term outcomes . A bit like dieting or exercising the choice is ours.
Many a person has brought attention and made significant changes in conduct and outcomes to this matter , but only when the majority act be it big or small efforts as a collective does the movement grow and regenerate seeds of thinking and actions of positive change. I never thought I would see the disregard for mother earth as i have in my short time here. Nor the never ending excuses for what is basic neglect for the biosphere we live amongst.
Any person or business that implements true change and applies a healthy environmental approach gets big hell yeah from me. Even if i don't consume the product. I will support their desire to change the current course of man an our environments future outlook. It's gotta start some where and it starts with us and how we choose to create and consume regardless of the capitalistic climate, vote with your feet and implement any action big or small. Give a fuck and lessen our impacts amongst the surges of global consumerism. Celebrate and protect what you've got, nurture instead of aimlessly consuming. Take charge of what can be controlled individually in regards to consumption and necessity. Live for mother earth as it lives for us, gives to us what we sow.
My favourite preacher is Robert Mitchum in Night of the Hunter.
Taylor Steele used to release versions of his movies with the irritating pro surfer “comedy skits” edited out. All killer, no filler.
It’d be nice if the same could be done with The Message about the state of the planet.
I swear there’s probably less awareness that the Sun rises in the East than the planet is getting rooted.
Travel and adventure stories need The Message like an ice cream cone needs a used dinger hanging out of it.
A surfer sits down with a Mentawai tribesman and talks about the plight of his people. They laugh, share experiences, despite coming from different worlds.
A surfer goes to Chile and hears about paper mills laying waste to native forests to plant pine, turn it to paper, and dump the chemicals into the pointbreaks surfers ride.
Are these not surfer's concerns?
He's a charismatic fella with a deft sense of storytelling - lot of spice, no molasses - but fuckwits who've never seen it come on here to talk about Greta Thunberg(?), climate change (it ain't mentioned), and spill more dumb hate.
It's OK, you don't like cultural or environmental concern. But understand, no-one is forcing you to watch it, no-one forced you onto this page, and none of you are subscribers anyway. You've gone out of your way to announce your viewpoint for a film you've never seen.
Talk about things in the world that are rooted...
I’m a subscriber and I’m aware of how rooted the world is without it being interjected into my escapism. I’m not saying the movie won’t be good or that the fella isn’t a great movie maker. I’m saying that I’d personally prefer to be lost in the adventure, excitement and romance. The cold spoon of climate destruction might be relevant in his travels but it’s relevant in everything you do and everywhere you go and I don’t particularly need or want it sprinkled through an opportunity to celebrate life.
That’s just personal choice. Surely you can respect that? I’m not saying fuck the planet or that I don’t care about what’s going down , I’m just saying I find the unique travails of an adventure enough and I don’t need the ubiquitousness of environmental destruction fouling it up.
That shit surrounds me everywhere and everyday. No chance it’s going unnoticed or that I need my awareness levels raised. I certainly don’t need it sewn through my entertainment.
"interjected into my escapism"
"sewn through my entertainment."
FFS...it's not your escapism or your entertainment. You understand the concept of volition, right?
No-one is forcing you to watch it.
And what of the people who do watch it and enjoy it? What of them...? Are they fools for enjoying it?
This aint the 1970s with three TV stations. Last time I counted there were 5.8 billion videos on Youtube. Surely one of them fits 'your escapism' and 'your entertainment'. Maybe even go back to other things we've posted on Swellnet that are pure surfing - Calypte comes to mind as a recent one.
You understand that it’s just my opinion right? I’m not demanding that no one should enjoy it?
Look, I surf in an endless stream of rubbish here. It’s truly heartbreaking. It was there yesterday, it was there today, it’s going to be there tomorrow. I’ve got total environmental destruction fatigue. I’m living it, I don’t want it in my entertainment. Just give me a well crafted surf adventure flick without forcing me back into the hideous reality of the world because you don’t think it’s beaten me about the head enough just yet.
Not too hard to understand.
I find it hard to understand.
It sounds to me like you've become despondent ('environmental destruction fatigue') and you give the impression that you have given up seeking to right past wrongs. You criticise the efforts of someone who hasn't.
Criticising the opinion of someone's work without taking the effort to even watch the film is hard to understand. What makes you think anybody wants to hear your uninformed opinion? What outcome do you seek other than to reinforce your choice to do fuck all?
"Just give me a well crafted surf adventure flick". I think Stu's encouraging you to get off your arse and choose your own content. Heaven forbid, flip your perspective, take your own adventure and think about what positive contribution you can make. Then I'll be keen to hear your opinion.
Nolan, brace yourself to be referred as "bloke' or 'fella' ..... yawn
Sjy have you seen it ?
Why can’t I just enjoy a surf without Robert Mitchum forever being shoved down my throat?!?!
The way of the internet in 2024.
Ignore the positives and focus on the negatives.
I'm looking forward to seeing it!!
The irony being that people are clamouring for a story that doesn’t have to be weighed down with negativity.
That’s what was so great about the Torren Martin yacht movie. He could’ve emoted endlessly about sailing through a sea of endless plastic. He could’ve had closeups of him shedding tears over what they’ve done to the islands he sailed past. Instead it smartly focused on the adversity and joy unique to his journey. We all know there’s a trillion billion bits of plastic there.
Talking about it is rapidly losing its currency.
Did you get a thesaurus for Christmas Blowie?
I love dinosaurs Southern.
(just lightening the mood a bit- these forums have been pretty bleak this week)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patagonia
I reckon it looks epic.
And a hell of a lot more fun than my day was today.
(I haven't had a bad day, just that that looks way more interesting.)
Yeah, it looks good, great visuals. If it's not, your bag, don't bother, watch something else, Adam Sandler's back catalogue has no "messages" to worry about.
An epic adventure by the looks with the guts to go and do it in a distant land. The fact that a film draws lines with environmental awareness only enhances the true beauty of an incredible place and culture. Whilst how insignificant it can feel to be travelling amongst a space far greater than man. An area of true wilderness that obviously resonates with the participants lucky enough to experience and explore it. I don't see how visiting a place like that can't leave a mark. Those areas are bigger and wilder than any man or woman walking the earth. Surfer or not. Maybe it's a surf film maybe it isn't.
How many surf vids have been filled with destructive and immature behaviour over the years? That have influenced many a generation? There are many genre's, subjects and many stories. I'd kill for a trip like that right now.
I'm vibing this will be a you tube buy or rent film.
For $28.50 yeah nah
Looks great.
Hope to get a chance to see it.
Love the Needsessentalial films with Torren and Laurie. Yowalla was great as Toasted was. All different styles and something for everyone.
Then there is the Florence bros clips.
Fark I remember back in the day sitting through hours of wide world of sports for 5 minutes of surfing at the end of show always coming up after the farken break... Haha
pretty simple global problem need only use the garbage can when dumping(not the ocean), click lights off when not in use and get everyone else to think the same.