Ready for something completely different? "Juju The Surf Musical" is a punch in the stomach of traditional surf movies.
Can surfing be the key to redemption and salvation? Isn't surfing a profoundly female dance with the ocean waves?
We dare to believe so.
Imagined by Jaleesa Vincent and Luka Raubenheimer, this under-30-minute unexpectedly entertaining surprise blends surfing, music, and fantasy into a unique storytelling experience.
With a lineup of professional surfers turned actors and actresses - including Jaleesa herself, Creed McTaggart, Josie Prendergast, and the legendary Mark Occhilupo - the film is a cauldron of creative freedom and unconventional viewpoints.
However, pop surrealism is one of the first concepts that better describe what you're about to watch.
But there's also room for fantasy, dreams, and the ever-conflicting world of good versus evil, devil versus god, work versus fun.
More Than Just Surfing
At its heart, "Juju The Surf Musical" tells the story of Juju, a receptionist who decides to break free from her stressful job and oppressive boss, Mark.
After quitting office life, Juju heads to the beach, hoping for peace and reconnection with the surf.
But her move takes an unexpected turn as she enters a mystical world where light and dark forces shape her path.
Along the way, she meets Creed of the Dark, a trickster-like figure who takes her surfing, and the Queen of the Light, a serene presence who guides Juju's transformation.
The film's narrative takes the spectator into themes of balance and contrasts, reflecting a yin-yang philosophy.
Juju's adventure becomes an adventure of self-discovery in a surreal and magical universe.
The darkness of a cavern quickly morphs into the heavenly bright light of the sea, where an ethereal surfer-goddess dances with the waves.
Music as the Driving Force
Unlike traditional surf films, "Juju The Surf Musical" is driven by music.
And that is something relatively new in this flick, apart from a few experimentations made in the 1960s and 1970s.
There's little dialogue; instead, the story unfolds through songs written by Jaleesa and performed by her band, Cupid and the Stupids.
The tunes go from indie, The Doors-esque to California sound-like melodies.
The use of sound in "Juju The Surf Musical" is particularly clever, as the no-dialogue exercise is often hard to master in movies that don't usually fit the short films category.
The trick to making them work is often in the script, shooting, and editing.
So obviously, the music, layered with surf harmonies and dream pop-like chords, adds depth to the film's fantastical atmosphere.
Each song tries to match the visuals, making the film feel like a living painting, which is precisely what the director aimed for - thrashy, confusing melodies for devilish moments and smooth sonic atmospheres for celestial water world scenes.
Every element seems to work together seamlessly, from choreography to animation, showcasing the creators' meticulous attention to detail.
Smart product placement opportunities by sponsor Billabong can be spotted but without being too intrusive.
A Visual and Creative Feat
The visuals in "Juju The Surf Musical" are as unconventional as its storyline.
Have you ever seen surfing clips where everything is red, including the skies and the waves? Look no further.
The entire film is packed with surreal imagery, blending artistic animation, purposedly low-fi CGI, and simple yet enthralling choreography.
And Occhilupo is in the bad guy role, which is somehow the antithesis of his real-life persona.
Jaleesa described the filmmaking process as creating a "painting" where every frame tells its own story.
Despite being under half an hour long, the film required extensive collaboration, with Jaleesa and Luka handling everything from songwriting to editing.
Unfortunately, surfing is no longer the focus of big productions nowadays, which can also be positive, especially when it generates these occasional upsides.
Last but not least, the surf clips are less relevant than the whole picture and serve more as a backdrop to the broader narrative.
The emphasis is on storytelling, not just waves and wave-riding per se, and we can only applaud that.
If surf movies are going arty like this, let's welcome them and ask for more surprising outcomes.
Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com