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The Search for Freedom

Extreme sports have been on a steady rise for over 50 years now, however it is really in the last generation or so that thrill seeking has become a way of life for Americans.  Over the years more and more people have grabbed a board or a bike or a ramp or a parachute or whatever and put their lives on the line just for the rush of sensation and exhilaration that comes from defying nature or gravity.

The Search for Freedom – a special limited-release documentary full of truly stunning footage of young (and not so young) athletes risking life and limb for the pure dopamine rush of experience – spends an hour and a half exploring many extreme sports.  There is awe-inspiring footage of everything from surfing to skiing, mountain climbing to mountain biking, motor cross to skate boards, rock climbing to cliff diving, snowboarding to motorcycle jumping to sky diving and many more.

And it looks amazing.  The cinematography of humans using the natural wonders of earth as a playground is exceptionally intriguing.  There are dozens of shots in this film that are literally suitable of framing. 

As far as narrative thrust, it doesn't really have one, but it's not really needed.  Writer and director Jon Long gives a bit of background and interviews many of the athletes, and other people in that world like the owner of Quiksilver and the inventor of the mountain bike (who has one of the most amazing mustaches ever).  It makes perfect sense to speak with Bruce Brown, as he pioneered this art form with the legendary 1960s surfing film Endless Summer.

The interview sections are just fine, though they do not offer much insight, more a bunch of guys (and women) spouting new-agey homilies trying to explain the mindset of living life as a daredevil. 

However, most of these people are athletes, not philosophers.  Therefore many of them say faux-insightful stuff like: "Trying to grab surfing is like trying to grab a snowflake."  No, because surfing is an action, not an object, therefore it is not possible to "grab."  No matter how zen that may sound, the statement really makes no sense at all.

Luckily, we don't need words to understand the heady rush and thrill of these experiences.  A picture is worth a thousand words, and The Search for Freedom has a whole hell of a lot of spectacular, breathtaking pictures.

Jay S. Jacobs

Copyright ©2015 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: June 9, 2015.

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