“On the Wave” plunges audiences into the breathtaking and perilous world of big wave surfing through the life of Sebastian Steudtner, the German outsider who rose to become the sport’s world record holder. Born in landlocked Nuremberg, Steudtner abandoned school at sixteen to chase the ocean — a decision that led him from windsurfing in Hawaii to confronting towering walls of water few humans would dare approach. Shunned at first by the insular surf world, mocked onstage after career-defining rides, and often left without sponsors, he refused to quit. His relentless pursuit carried him from the icy shores of Ireland to the legendary swells of Nazaré, Portugal — the wave that would not only catapult him into the history books but also shift the center of big wave surfing to Europe.
Based on Bethany's autobiography "Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board," this heartwarming film tracks the struggle to pursue normalcy and ambition after a major injury.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman will be happiest if she marries a man with a good fortune, similar upbringing, matching attractiveness levels, and compatible politics.
Netflix’s Shadow and Bone has a complicated relationship with race. It has a diverse cast, but not without its problems. Based on Leigh Bardugo’s two book series, the show features characters from the Shadow and Bone trilogy, which is very straight and white, and the Six of Crows duology, which is much more diverse. When bringing together a cast and writing about these characters, the team behind the show expanded upon some of the representation missing from the first trilogy, then seemed to take away representation from the duology. Shadow and Bone seems to play a bit of a push and pull game when it comes to portraying diversity onscreen.
The genres of science fiction and fantasy are not exclusively masculine territory. Over the last few decades, female directors have brought to the screen some of the most visually stunning, intellectually daring, and deeply moving works of speculative fiction. From big Hollywood productions like Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel to independent low-budget films, women filmmakers are making a name for themselves around the world.
In all honesty, “Black and Blue” is a satisfying experience, complete with solid craftsmanship. With the help of cinematographer Dante Spinotti, Deon Taylor (the director) creates a murky, lived in atmosphere.
When Juana tries real sushi for the first time, she is immediatley smitten by it and discovers a passion she never knew she had.
