Surfwise

Critics Consensus

An intriguing account of a unique family.

98%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 45

66%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 35,931
User image

Surfwise Photos

View All Photos (4)

Movie Info

"Surfwise" follows the odyssey of 85-year-old, legendary surfer Dr. Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz, his wife Juliette, and their nine children--all of whom were home-schooled on the beaches of Southern California, Hawaii, Mexico and Israel. They surfed every day of their lives and were forced to adhere to a strict diet and lifestyle by their passionate and demanding, health-conscious father. What happens to eight brothers and a sister that are raised under such extraordinary circumstances? "Surfwise" is the story of a man who pursued his dreams and dragged his family along for the wild ride.

Watch it now

Cast

Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz M.D.
as Surfer
David Paskowitz
Jonathon Paskowitz
Abraham Paskowitz
Israel Paskowitz
Moses Zyus Paskowitz II
Adam Paskowitz
Salvador Paskowitz
Navah Paskowitz
Joshua Paskowitz
Juliette Paskowitz
Steve Pezman
Sunny Garcia
Hunter Knox
Taylor Knox
Marc Occhilapo
Andy Irons
Adrian Paskowitz
Sonia Darrin
Rabbit Kekai
Woody Brown
Orian Kancepolsky
Naomi Kancepolsky
Shaul Ziner
Delilah Paskowitz
Terry Tracy
Phyllis Tracy
Wolf Walther
Max Walther
Aviva Walther
John Henry Walther
Nina Poskowitz
Rodney Frias
Kelly Slater
Isaiah Paskowitz
Danielle Paskowitz
Elijah Paskowitz
Nancy Paskowitz
Doug Sawin
Phaedra Paskowitz
Arthur Rashkovan
Noah Zane Paskowitz
Jacob Zion Paskowitz
Tracey Paskowitz
Kristin Paskowitz
Halo Paskowitz
Shelly Paskowitz
Levi Paskowitz
Jeff Antoci
Jeff Tallett
Chris Owens
Makua Rothman
Eddie Rothman
Stephanie Riedel
Shai Pniel
Alexander
Allaire
Janna Barker
Austin Beller
John Michael
Wayne A. Brown
Hannah Davich
Laura Davich
Ben Fassbaugh
Kainalu Froiseth
Bryce Dallas Howard
Cole Howard
Hayden Howard
Howard Jackson
Sofie Howard
Caia Jaisle
Ryan Krutz
John Nugent Hayward
Margaret Nugent
Kate Orford
Robert Orford
Alexis Picard
Taylor Henry
Michael Tracy
Brian Urquhart
Christine
Caleb Wilborn
Judd Williams
Nisan Agbaria
Kala Alexander
Ronen Armony
Scandar Copti
Maya Dauber
Thomas A. Drazin M.D.
Teene Froseith
Avi Harel
Jen Homcy
Malia Jones
Brendan Lee
Gilad Lewandowski
Solly J. Melzer
Tamar Melzer
Mofid
Sheikh Sliman Abu Hamid
View All

Critic Reviews for Surfwise

All Critics (45) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (44) | Rotten (1)

  • The fallout decades later provides the drama in this documentary by Doug Pray, who lets his eccentric octogenarian subject off a little too easy.

    Dec 17, 2008 | Full Review…

    Andrea Gronvall

    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic

  • A provocative documentary about a man who dropped out to follow a dream that gradually evolved into something not unlike a nightmare.

    Jul 18, 2008 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    Joe Leydon

    Houston Chronicle
    Top Critic

  • Not just the story of one man's obsessive quest to find harmony on a plank of wood, Surfwise offers a cautionary tale about parenting, homeschooling (camper-schooling, actually), sibling rivalries and family sacrifice.

    Jun 26, 2008 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…

    Steven Rea

    Philadelphia Inquirer
    Top Critic

  • The film's director, Doug Pray, has been able to track down each and every Paskowitz child, and he weaves their memories together with old home movies, still photos and news clippings to create an evocative portrait of their lives.

    Jun 20, 2008 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    Roger Ebert

    Chicago Sun-Times
    Top Critic

  • Some documentarians think like essayists, propagandists, abstract painters, or magazine reporters. Doug Pray approaches his documentaries as though he's writing books.

    Jun 19, 2008 | Rating: A-

    Noel Murray

    AV Club
    Top Critic

  • The unorthodox upbringing of the Paskowitz clan is the subject of Surfwise, the story of a family who lived on the road, camped at the beachfront and fashioned its own vanguard version of 1960s-'70s alternative lifestyles.

    Jun 19, 2008 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    Sid Smith

    Chicago Tribune
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (45)

Audience Reviews for Surfwise

  • Jul 16, 2011
    After watching Surfwise; I don't know what to think of "Doc" and the way he raised his children. All I know is that I wouldn't have wanted to grow up that way. Doc seems like he had the best intentions, but still have this feeling of hate towards the way he chose to bring up his children. I don't understand how he can think he did the right thing. He closed them off to the world and prevented them from getting an education. He wants us to believe that they got the education they needed and that public education is not important. I liked listening to his kids talk about their experiences and how it affected them, but I hated having to listen to Doc speak his weird views on life. Even with how I feel about Doc's choices and beliefs; I still don't think he is a horrible father. He was with his kids, and he obviously loved them. He just didn't allow them the basic freedoms most kids have. He kids called him a dictator. Surfwise is a well-made and entertaining documentary about a "different" family and the ways it affected all of them.
    Melvin W Super Reviewer
  • Feb 12, 2010
    A sad film chronicling the unconventional lifestyle of one of surfing's leading families. Sad, because although their childhood was an idyllic bohemian dream that most kids would die for, none of the Paskowitz kids were prepared for life. Still, it was interesting to hear each of them talk about the way they lived, and to hear Doc Paskowitz, a Stanford educated doctor, talk about his philosophy and explain why he raised his family as he did. Interspersed with the interviews, was what appeared to be home-movie footage and newspaper clippings of the family as they lived the adventure of raising nine children as nomads and traveling the continent in a 24-foot motor home.
    Mark A Super Reviewer
  • May 12, 2009
    [font=Century Gothic]"Surfwise" is an engaging, if not substantive, documentary about Dorian ' Doc' Paskowitz who graduated from Stanford University with a medical degree but fearing the good life, dropped out and took up surfing. After introducing surfing to Israel and failing to enlist in the country's paratroopers, he proceeded to get married for the second time to Jeanette. Together, they would eventually have nine children who were all raised in a 24 foot camper, traveling wherever his whims took them while basically focusing on surfing. These cramped conditions forced them to maintain a certain level of hygiene and the lack of privacy made the parents' energetic sex life a bit disturbing to everyone else. As hard as life was due to being perpetually broke, nobody starved. They eventually settled down to a degree with the establishment of a surfing camp and the children became expert surfers, winning their share of trophies.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]In this tale of man versus society, all good things must come to an end. And whereas I admire Dorian for finding another path, it is not for everyone which is the conclusion his kids came to as they became adults. However, his idea of an education did not prepare them for life in a structured world, most settling for life in music or on the waves. No matter how tyrannical or possibly abusive Dorian was, all nine of his children participate in the documentary but it has been ten years since they have all been together in the same place.[/font]
    Walter M Super Reviewer
  • Jan 03, 2009
    Insightful & candid doc on legendary surfer Dorian Paskowitz and his freakishly large family. It delves into Dorian's lifestyle and beliefs and the effects it had/has on his kids.
    Wu C Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

Surfwise Quotes

There are no approved quotes yet for this movie.

News & Features