Eli Bottom - Screening of Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddia Aikau

This week I thought I'd write on the screening of the film Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau which was held at the Rio theatre over this past weekend. The film was a documentary that provided a current day review and analysis of the life of famous North Shore native Eddie Aikau. Combining archival footage, found footage, interviews, and reenactments, the film familiarized viewers with the story of Eddie from his early days until his untimely death.

One thing I particularly liked was the close relationship that the director, Sam George, had with the Aikau family during the production of the film. Being in the surf industry for 30 years writing and narrating the sport gave him the wisdom, I believe, to direct a film that takes significant cues from the Aikau family. Specifically, it was evident in the emotional interviews that the Aikau family was on board and invested in the film. This gave the film huge credibility in my eyes and definitely allowed the information to be accepted with less salt than the typical documentary.

Overall, the film provided great separation from the typical surf film, and presented itself with an authority that was well respected by the crowd (the in-person introduction by the director definitely didn't hurt). I largely see this as due to the historical significance of the film. Eddie affected so many lives in a positive way, because of the person he was and what he did for others. As a lifeguard his save record was perfect and as a surfer his reputation was one of determination and fearlessness. The film helped viewers glimpse the affects he had on people through interviews and other found footage.

I found the aesthetic of the film entirely appropriate with the exception of the reenactments. I always have a hard time watching something I know was staged, and the reenactments put me off ever so slightly. With the rest of the film, occasional film burns and slow motion included, I was not distracted by the aesthetic. Everything contributed well to the overall chronology. I was especially glad there were no surf corporation sponsors mentioned or shown in the video. This truly set it apart, and I believe such reverence was due when recalling the life of this important man.