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Beyond: An African Surf Documentary

Beyond: An African Surf Documentary

2017

Director

Mario Hainzl

Runtime

111 minutes

Average Rating

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Synopsis

Africa, Europe - Europe and Africa: Surfers live differently on each continent and Africa marks a special place - as surfing is in many places at its very beginnings. 'Beyond - An African Surf Documentary' follows locals along the coast of Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal and Gambia into their homes, visits their home surf spots and takes a look into their surfing lives. Three months of shooting culminated in a 111 minute long episodic journey on a continent, that has the potential to be the next big thing in surfing.

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Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

6.1/10

Good

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The documentary does not provide explicit evidence of LGBTQ+ characters or narratives. The score reflects a neutral baseline for a film focused on geographic and athletic pursuits.

Gender Representation

Fair

The film focuses on the communal and individual lives of surfers. It does not specifically explore gendered power dynamics or the subversion of gender hierarchies.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Excellent

The narrative centers on African locales and local populations. By highlighting surfers in Senegal, Gambia, and Mauritania, the film prioritizes non-Western agency and challenges Eurocentric sports media.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The film demonstrates cultural immersion by entering the homes and environments of its subjects. It avoids a purely Western gaze by highlighting Africa's unique role in surfing history.

Disability Representation

Fair

There is no evidence regarding the inclusion or exclusion of characters with disabilities. The score remains at a neutral baseline.

Strengths

  • Prioritizes non-Western agency by centering the narrative on African coastal communities.
  • Challenges Eurocentric hegemony in extreme sports media by highlighting local identities.
  • Provides cultural immersion by visiting the homes and local environments of the subjects.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks explicit representation or narratives regarding LGBTQ+ identities.
  • Does not specifically address or explore gendered power dynamics or hierarchies.
  • Provides no evidence of representation for individuals with disabilities.

AI Analysis

Beyond: An African Surf Documentary serves as a significant piece of decolonial media within the sports genre. By shifting the lens away from traditional Western-centric surfing hubs, the film disrupts the conventional expectation of Western dominance in global sporting narratives. The documentary prioritizes the agency of local coastal communities across Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal, and Gambia. It offers a nuanced view of geography and lifestyle that moves beyond a typical tourist perspective. While the film does not engage in overt social activism or identity-based political commentary, its structural intent is notable. It succeeds in providing a platform for African surfers to drive the narrative.

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