Splinters (2012)
Average Rating: 6.8/10
Reviews Counted: 11
Fresh: 9 | Rotten: 2
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 6.5/10
Critic Reviews: 7
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 1
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 4.1/5
User Ratings: 572
Movie Info
Splinters is the first feature-length documentary film about the evolution of indigenous surfing in the developing nation of Papua New Guinea. In the 1980s an intrepid Australian pilot left behind a surfboard in the seaside village of Vanimo. Twenty years on, surfing is not only a pillar of village life but also a means to prestige. With no access to economic or educational advancement, let alone running water and power, village life is hermetic. A spot on the Papua New Guinea national surfing
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All Critics (11) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (9) | Rotten (2)
A hybrid work that will appeal to both surf-movie fanatics and armchair sociologists.
Wait for it to hit the small screen.
Not all of these players win in this capable account of their struggles, but all contribute to a valuable lesson in fair play.
A cool doc that pivots adroitly between viewpoints and ambitions.
Offers a compelling look at the preparations undertaken by two rival wave-rider clubs in the town of Vanimo.
The best film ever made about competitive surfing in Papua New Guinea...
Though Splinters emulates a laid-back surfer-dude vibe all too well in its sluggish middle third, the final surf-off is a total white-knuckler.
The surf's up in Papua New Guinea, and rivalry is intense as Vanimo villagers compete for a slot on their national surfing team -- and a fast track ticket to status and the wide world beyond their beaches.
Adam Pesce never condescends to any of his subjects, but good intentions alone don't make for a captivating movie.
[VIDEO] Adam Pesce's absorbing cross-cultural documentary about a small indigenous community in the village of Vanimo, Papua New Guinea provides an intimate view into an island culture revolutionized by one thing, a surfboard.
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