Splinters

At some point during the 1980s, an Australian pilot left his surfboard behind in the small village of Vanimo in Papua New Guinea. Now, 20 years later, surfing has become a way of life in the village, and an important status issue. There are even two rival surf clubs: Vanimo Surf Club and Sunset Surf Club. The film shows surfers from both clubs as they prepare for the very first surf championships in Papua New Guinea. While in the early days the surfers used to make their boards with "splinters" from palm trees, they now ride the waves on second-hand surfboards. And that goes for both men and women. With one eye on the waves, the Vanimo surfers longingly go through their glossy surf magazines, dreaming of doing the ideal maneuver. Boardshorts are mended and competition rules discussed. And in the meantime, village life goes on as usual. The film offers a fascinating glimpse into the society of this poverty-stricken island, where running water and electricity are unavailable and where people have to navigate the problems of the traditional lifestyle, the troubles of modern life, and their dreams of becoming a professional surfer in Australia. There's only one way to make that dream come true, and that's by becoming the best surfer on the island.