 
Peel: The Peru Project - A Surf Odyssey
By: Surfing DVDs Average Rating: 5.0 Total Reviews: 6
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 On: 2008-01-17
Im not a surfer, but a surfing friend encouraged me to buy this documentary in anticipation of a trip to Peru. He argued that I couldnt very well visit California and not try to understand how important surfing is to many people in that state. Im glad I listened.
The documentary focuses on several small villages along the long Peruvian coastline, where people fish and body surf as a way of life. A group of US surfers from California and Hawaii join a professional Peruvian surfer, national Peruvian champion Luis Miguel (Magoo) de la Rosa. They all share the surfing and their personal experiences. It amounts to a triumph of laid back cultures coming together in some beautiful scenery.
The shots of the ocean, the mountains, the ruins, all combine to create an idyllic view of Peru. (The film hints, though, that you need to watch your valuables, good advice anywhere in the world of course.) The sound track included "Divine" by Surfact, and somehow the Danish acoustics enhanced the visual impacts perfectly.
A co-director Thomas Barrack wrote: "The idea to make a film in Peru came about because we really wanted to create an old school feel for our next film. We wanted it to have the texture of a 60s surf road trip, really down to the basics, exploring a new culture and new waves. Wes had just read a book called "Kon-Tiki" which is the anthropologist Thor Heyerdahls memoirs of his sea voyage from Peru to Tahiti. He theorized that surfing may have originated in Peru and been brought to the Polynesians. This very controversial yet intriguing idea sparked our interest in Peru and as we studied more about the country and its long surfing history we realized it would be the perfect place to embark on a rugged road trip exploration."
They realized their vision perfectly.
On: 2008-01-16
Im not a surfer, but a surfing friend encouraged me to buy this documentary in anticipation of a trip to Peru. He argued that I couldnt very well visit California and not try to understand how important surfing is to many people in that state. Im glad I listened.
The documentary focuses on several small villages along the long Peruvian coastline, where people fish and body surf as a way of life. A group of US surfers from California and Hawaii join a professional Peruvian surfer, national Peruvian champion Luis Miguel (Magoo) de la Rosa. They all share the surfing and their personal experiences. It amounts to a triumph of laid back cultures coming together in some beautiful scenery.
The shots of the ocean, the mountains, the ruins, all combine to create an idyllic view of Peru. (The film hints, though, that you need to watch your valuables, good advice anywhere in the world of course.) The sound track included "Divine" by Surfact, and somehow the Danish acoustics enhanced the visual impacts perfectly.
A co-director Thomas Barrack wrote: "The idea to make a film in Peru came about because we really wanted to create an old school feel for our next film. We wanted it to have the texture of a 60s surf road trip, really down to the basics, exploring a new culture and new waves. Wes had just read a book called "Kon-Tiki" which is the anthropologist Thor Heyerdahls memoirs of his sea voyage from Peru to Tahiti. He theorized that surfing may have originated in Peru and been brought to the Polynesians. This very controversial yet intriguing idea sparked our interest in Peru and as we studied more about the country and its long surfing history we realized it would be the perfect place to embark on a rugged road trip exploration."
They realized their vision perfectly.
On: 2007-12-28
Peel The Peru Project stands out as a very well depicted documentary of some of the several small villages on the long peruvian coastline, where fishing and wave surfing are part of the daily life among its people -men and women alike-, and how some expert US american surf sportsmen (from Hawaii and California) share their experiences in this land together with peruvian locals. It is really nice to see the always laidback and respectful north americans enjoying their stay at the sea and the cultural history Perú had to offer to them. And of course, together with the also expert peruvian sportsmen/-women, led by surfing champion Luis Miguel (Magoo) de la Rosa as overall trip guide, they all show us excellent scenes of surfing. Although unfortunately there can be a very few cases of robbery (just very briefly handled in the film), particularly when you go to small villages apart and a bit remote in developing countries, it is just a matter of watching out for our valuable things; actually, and being myself a Peruvian who knows about it, you can feel as safe here as in almost any other part of the world.
This documentary is not about crazy surf manouvers accompanied with crazy hardcore adrenaline-fuelled music; it is a DVD, done with the right feeling, about a part of Perú: its coast, its surfing cultural history, the feeling and savvy of this group of north americans and peruvians when hitting its sea with joy and with great manouvers of course, and even going to experience the karma of the ancient incas culture in the highlands. This ultimately becomes a proof of the excellent work of the producers and editors of this DVD documentary. And, of course, the excellent music there, too. Thumbs up for it.
To complement this review, let me just add that Perú has all kinds of sea waves (I would also like to add Ecuador here, being the Pacific Ocean coastline along all both Ecuador and Perú some of the best for simultaneously relaxing and surfing in America), from 2-ft to 25-ft waves (thus making it also a great place for big wave riders), and for anyone coming to the coast here at anytime of the year, they will always be welcome by consistent beautiful waves and by their people, all of which I am sure will contribute in making them get a unique sporting, cultural and relaxing experience out of this place.
On: 2007-09-15
A profound surf journey along the coastline of Peru that inspires the adventurer in all of us.
On: 2007-09-14
A profound surf journey along the coastline of Peru that inspires the adventurer in all of us.
On: 2007-07-02
I am not a surfer, and Ive never really been interested in surfing... but my boyfriend grew up in Hawaii and loves it. So he introduced me to this film. Not only is it very artistic, its also a really beautiful journey through a really amazing place: Peru. The music is awesome, the film is thoughtful, and the passion of each surfer completely resonates. The whole documentary has this kind of calmness to it. It captures the wonder and also sometimes the desolateness that exists in Peru. And the whole film itself is very relaxing somehow. Its more about Peru than surfing.
And girls: the surfers are also really hot.
On: 2006-10-12
Having been born and raised in Perú and surfed since 1966, I have watched and read everyting that is about surfing in Perú. This film is great, cinematography and the surfing was awsome. Listen to what Magoo de la Rosa says, you will lern about our surfing culture. I was also happy to see that these surfers also went to visit Machu Pichu, they did what all surfers should do. Not only does Perú have waves every day of the year (never a flat day)all through the coast line, but it is rich in culture.
The surf community loves to show off our country, so surfers are always welcomed.
On: 2006-09-21
Just watched it for the first time and now I have to watch it again just to catch a better look at the shots! Great cinematography and great music. Only thing I found that I didnt like was the closing credits. They are a bit blurry and I had to freeze frame them to read the song credits. I loved the song Sweet and Lonely and was able to find find it on the net at I-tunes under Nathan Paine. Time to go check out some of the other artists whos tunes are in this movie. If you surf or just dig great surfers doing what they do best just buy it....
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