Posts Tagged ‘soul surfer’

Soul Surfer : Bethany Hamilton

Saturday, October 29th, 2011

SSF DVD

Spent a lovely evening watching Soul Surfer with my three eldest girls last night.  The film recounts the true story of a competitive teen surfer Bethany Hamilton from the North Shore of Kauai, Hawaii.  Bethany lost her arm in a shark attack in 2003 and the film recounts her life before, during and after the attack.

Her determination to become a champion again is the main thread of the movie but it also touches on how Bethany and her family’s faith was instrumental in her recovery and reassessment of her life.  AnnaSophia Robb (Bridge to Terabithia – filmed just a few miles from our house) does a stand-out job as Bethany, with Helen Hunt and Dennis Quaid well cast as her parents.  Robyn, who has read the book, noticed that Hamilton has a brief cameo as an extra in the scene about a World Vision mission to Thailand, while her mum and dad appear as extras in a church scene. American Idol winner Carrie Underwood, in her first movie, has a supporting role as Bethany’s youth group leader. The beautiful scenery and cloudscapes of Kauai also feature prominently and we found ourselves all keen to go see the place for ourselves!

While I am the first to admit to groans and grumbles at the sight of another teenage chick flick – seemingly hundreds pass through this house annually – this movie was so much more than that; it’s great to watch as a family or as an inspirational film for a youth group. Definitely one for our ‘to buy’ list.