The Still Point (Taki Bibelas, 2010): France

Review by Tim Lopez. Viewed at Santa Barbara Film Festival 2011.

“At the still point of the turning world …. Where past and future are gathered …. Neither movement from nor towards …. Except for the point, the still point, There would be no dance, and there is only the dance.” – T.S. Elliot

This quote inspires Taki Bibelas’ surf documentary that’s not just about surfing but also the driving force that is the ocean. Taki’s film could be a guidebook for the sport of surfing as it’s primary goal is to pay respect to the ocean. The Still Point looks past the culture of surfing and into the ocean and how it performs along with surfers as if its alive. I am not a surfer myself but have come to respect and understand the sport. To describe the overall message of this film, I’ve developed a series of inspirational quotes from a variety of surfers and ocean lovers.

“It’s all about where your minds at.” – Kelly Slater

“Blue, green, grey, white, or black; smooth, ruffled, or mountainous; that ocean is not silent.” – H.P. Lovecraft

“Out of the water, I am nothing.” – Duke Kahanamoku

“Surfing wasn’t about money back then. Surfers always lived cheaply and scraped by.” -Jeff Clark

“Sometimes in the morning, when it’s a good surf, I go out there, and I don’t feel like it’s a bad world.” -Karry Mullis

“How inappropriate to call this planet Earth when it is quite clearly Ocean.” – Arthur C. Clarke

“Surfing is very much like making love. It always feels good, no matter how many times you’ve done it.” – Paul Strauch

Quotes from the film itself:

“Have I told you I think water is God’s tranquilzer?”

“Nothing is actuallly everything, if you can go into the nothingness that is where everythings at.”

“Is the ocean alive, does it have a consciousness?” – Taki Bibelas