Some people thrive from competition. They can take up a sport or just enjoy improving themselves in their everyday lives to feel fitter, faster and stronger. There are many ways to compete, either through physical or mental ability where many prove themselves to be the best. Some even enjoy the competitive nature of their workplace – even when no competition exists. Some people believe that a little competition does them good as it keeps them active, alert and always striving to do better. Sometimes the competition can be healthy, it can keep people focussed, determined and it gives them a goal to achieve. However, if the competition becomes a little too fierce and it’s all that person lives for it can become damaging, not only for them but for those around them. Realising that winning is not everything can help a person, not only in competition but in life in general as you never know what setbacks you’ll face along the way.
Bethany Hamilton (AnnaSophia Robb) is a teenager, she and her family are Christians and she also has a dream of becoming a professional surfer. These are the things that are important to her. Then one day while out with her best friend, Alana (Lorraine Nicholson), Bethany becomes the victim of a shark attack and loses her left arm. Soon Bethany’s family rush to her aid; her dad Tom (Dennis Quaid), her mum, Cheri (Helen Hunt) and her brothers, Noah (Ross Thomas) and Timmy (Chris Brochu) are all very worried when they hear about what could have been fatal for Bethany. Luckily, Dr. Rovinsky (Craig T. Nelson) is at hand. A loyal and trusted family friend and doctor who reassures Bethany that everything is going to be fine. The thing is though, when somebody loses a limb there is little else the hospital can do other than clean the wound, patch it up and send the patient home – so that’s exactly what the Hamiltons do. However, the wider psychological issues that go with such a traumatic incident soon start to seep through.
Soul Surfer is the true story of professional surfer Bethany Hamilton and the traumatic injury that occurred which could have changed her life. The film follows Bethany’s story as she goes from having the world at her feet, having the rug pulled out from under her and getting her life back on track. It also shows how she came to terms with her disability, raising issues of body image, Bethany’s faith and putting a perspective on life when times are bad.
Just before the accident, Bethany is doing her very best in life. She loves spending time with her family and friends, loves surfing and has just been offered a sponsorship deal which will not only promote her as a surfer, but will help provide for her family. Along with the road to professional competition comes sponsorships and fame and with fame comes fans and so after Bethany’s injury, the ideal image of beauty is called into question as she doesn’t believe she matches up to it anymore. Bethany sees Alana take up the sponsorship deal as well and Bethany starts to think about what she has lost rather than what she can still achieve. Add to all that the scene where Bethany’s family comes home and she finds it hard to even make a sandwich and her mindset is clearly laid out for the audience.
Bethany’s story is of course one of triumph, winning in the face of adversity and learning to accept yourself, but Soul Surfer goes through Bethany’s psychological process quite realistically. It’s not like Bethany felt sad for a while, changed her mind and never looked back and that comes across as a more natural process. Although Bethany has her faith, the film shows that she is still a person with doubts and fears for her future and it shows that the way she accepted herself is not through an unwavering belief in God but by learning how to adapt to her new way of life, accepting herself and thriving on the competition that defines her life.
Soul Surfer is also a sports movie and this is where the film really shines. The competitive surfing sports film is a very niche genre, but whether you’re an avid fan of the sport or a complete novice, the film makes any audience member feel like they are a spectator at the sporting event of the year. The scenes where Bethany competes against others in competition are thrilling, making the audience really want Bethany to win as she’s faced with wave after wave. Also, if you love a training montage then Soul Surfer has you covered. The film shows that Bethany’s ambitions to become a professional surfer even after her injury are not just achieved by will power and a good attitude alone. Bethany’s road to victory is through determination and a willingness to adapt her performance on a surfboard that may have been affected by the loss of her arm.
Through the montages it shows the audience exactly how she does that so that she’s is not just an inspirational winner, but a talented and worthy competitor. These kinds of scenes also help work towards the public perception of people who have to cope with a disability. If somebody has found themselves in similar situation to Bethany, showing all the ways she has to adapt to life (both physically and mentally) may help them in their own lives. It may also help to dispel the myth that if a disability were to occur then it doesn’t mean that it’s the end of the world.
Soul Surfer is one of those films that are meant to be inspirational, empowering and thoughtful but it rarely does so in a way that feels emotionally manipulative or cheesy. It has its faults, for example when Bethany goes to Thailand after giving up her surfing dream only to learn that there are people far less fortunate than her and she shouldn’t give up, the scene is undercut by an unnecessary voiceover, but it’s a minor irritation that doesn’t harm the film too badly. There are also a few occurrences of bad acting and a ‘villain’ of sorts that seems to come from another film entirely, but the film achieves what it sets out to do.
Bethany Hamilton is still a professional surfer and has used her fame to help others who are faced with difficult times in their lives. Her life and her biopic shows that just because everything around you may change, learning to adapt and grow can make all the difference.
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