‘Girls Can’t Surf’ Wins Critical Acclaim

Girls Can’t Surf, the fascinating and inspiring documentary from FINCH’s Christopher Nelius, is a potent examination of the ways that a sub-culture can be pushed towards inclusivity — from the inside.

The film was a smash hit on first release, and has continued to attract strong reviews. One of the most in-depth explorations of Nelius’ work comes from The Conversation, and the writer Sophia Nimphius.

Nimphius, who has a background in Human Performance, highlights the way that the documentary is suffused with insider knowledge, and boasts a wealth of documentary footage pulled from the era.

“Christopher Nelius (director, writer and producer) and Julie Anne De Ruvo (co-writer) have sourced an unbelievable series of clips, likely dug out of garages the world over, combining previously unseen footage with brutally honest interviews,” writers Nimphius.

Moreover, for Nimphius, the film splashes its central themes — change, gender parity, true representation — onto the broadest possible canvas. “Girls Can’t Surf cements the idea that sport is a microcosm for society,” she concludes.

The full article is available to be read here.