strike is a polish language film produced by a mainly german group , released in 2006 and directed by volker schlöndorff .

the film is broadly a docudrama .

it covers the formation of solidarity .

the action centers around work and labor organizing in the lenin shipyard in gdańsk , poland .

the film follows the life of agnieszka kowalska ( katharina thalbach ) in about three segments covering first her life as a dedicated worker in communist poland of the early sixties ( dvd chapters 1-4 ) , then following events leading to the polish 1970 protests ( chapters 5-10 ) , and finally the early eighties including the dedication of the monument to the fallen shipyard workers of 1970 , the gdańsk agreement , and martial law in poland ( chapters 11-15 ) .

the character of agnieszka is loosely based on at least two women , the crane operator anna walentynowicz and the diminutive shipyard nurse alina pienkowska with invented or distorted facts .

strike ( 2006 film )

the 1956 shearers ' strike . 20 sep 2006 . rural online . ( australian broadcasting corporation )
clerks ii screened out of competition at the 2006 cannes film festival and received an 8 - minute standing ovation from the crowd following the premiere screening .
noel creevey , former assistant commissioner for police in queensland who was a constable in winton , queensland during the strike .
last year , £1 . 3bn was spent by foreign film - makers in britain , according to the british film institute ( bfi ) - double the figure in 2012 .
it is 50 years since shearers walked off the job around the country during the 1956 shearers ' strike . to coincide with the anniversary , bush telegraph has prepared a special program , talking to both sides of the dispute and examing the strike ' s legacy , half a century on .
those shearers who are old enough to remember the strike regard it as an important milestone for their industry . sam beechey , the national pastoral industries co - ordinator for the australian workers union , was just six - years - old when his father went out in strike in victoria . he believes the story of the 1956 shearers strike is something every young shearer should know about today ; its legacy , a reminder of the importance of tenacity .
after a gay party planner discovers his brother is behind the governor ' s speech against gay marriage , he decides to go on strike for equal rights .
jay & silent bob strike back was intended to be the final film in smith’s fictional “view askewniverse” that featured his connected cast of characters . that film even featured a post - credit sequence featuring god ( played by alanis morissette , who was reprising her role from smith’s dogma ) closing an “askewniverse” book that says “the end . ” but smith was inspired to return to the characters following the critical and financial failure of his film jersey girl .
bradford , doncaster and rotherham are providing the backdrop for a major bollywood film starring one of india ' s biggest names - just one of the foreign productions contributing to britain ' s film - making boom .
lady pearl logan , the widow of sir douglas logan , a grazier who owned richmond downs in queensland . during the strike lady pearl stepped in to work as a wool classer
there are a few reasons behind britain ' s allure for overseas film - makers - tax breaks , the weak pound making it cheaper to film here , a readily available pool of skilled crew , plus the historic locations .
the first movie’s distinctly grainy , black and white 16mm look proved difficult to recreate for certain scenes in clerks ii , but smith decided to update the sequel and shoot the rest on 35mm color film . the director used spike lee’s 2002 film 25th hour as a reference for the way he wanted the color film in clerks ii to look .
at the height of the gilded age , steel workers fight for their rights against the oppressive working conditions of andrew carnegie ' s carnegie steel , resulting in the homestead strike of 1892 .
sue bellarby has worked on 26 bollywood film sets in the uk , including gold , where she is unit manager .
4 . despite grossing more than $ 600 million worldwide , the film failed to turn a profit by the end of 1994 .
david wilson , director of bradford city of film , says more than 100 films and tv shows have been shot in the city in the last 12 months . that ' s double the number in 2012 , when he reopened the city ' s film office .
. we’re joined on the line now by award - winning film producer and community activist , moctesuma esparza . he’s the executive producer of
marshall lawson loses his strike - team in a cold - blooded and seemingly random attack . after this he takes it upon himself to investigate the suspicious circumstances of the brutal killings . . . . see full summary »
film tells the story of the 1968 walkout by high school chicano students in east los angeles to protest academic prejudice and dire school conditions . we speak with the executive director of the film , moctesuma esparza . an award - winning film producer and community activist , esparza helped organize the 1968 walkout and was arrested and jailed along with 12 others for conspiracy to disturb the peace . [ includes rush transcript ]
they love the authenticity of shooting here . and i know they get some form of tax incentive . my experience of them is it ' s as cheap to film here as it is in india now , and they can actually film the locations for real .
a comic take on the issue of gay marriage ,
wedding wars
asks the question : what would happen if every gay person in america suddenly went on strike ? an argument between two brothers inadvertently triggers the strike , and it ' s up to the siblings to solve their differences before the entire country is shut down in this outrageous comedy that explores gay rights , equal treatment under the law , and what it means to be a brother .
dante’s girlfriend emma is played by smith’s wife jennifer schwalbach , and the little girl who waves at dante during the film’s montage is smith and schwalbach’s daughter , harley quinn smith . smith’s mother briefly reprises her role from the first movie as the “milk maid” in the film’s final shot .
in 1956 bill ludwig , now the national president of the australian workers union , was a shearer in queensland who went out on strike . along with errol hodder , a former secretary of the awu and a retired commissioner on the australian industrial relations commission , who was also a wool presser in 1956 , ludwig remembers a time when shearers stuck together , paying a special levy into a strike fund to support those shearers who could not find work on the old rates .
the strike left a lasting legacy in many shearing towns with divisions continuing for many generations . stories circulated of shearing sheds burning down , bales of wool being left at railway sidings and violence between shearers and
scabs
. mike gellert was a 24 - year - old overseer on portland downs , a large marino property in queensland , when the strike broke out . along with the manager of the station , he slept in the shearing shed with guns ready in case trouble broke out .
the strike force team is back in this action - packed sequel to
the hunt for eagle one
! terrorists have stolen a ground control encoder , a new anti - hijack device that enables air traffic . . . see full summary »
sunday too far away directed by ken hannam with a screenplay by john dingwall . starring jack thompson , reg lye and max cullen south australian film commission 1975
the uk has become the destination of choice for many global film - makers , with talent from both hollywood and bollywood making it their home from home .
a film that explores the dark and miserable town , basin city , and tells the story of three different people , all caught up in violent corruption .
for this film , because it ' s a period film , i needed architecture that ' s been maintained . architecture that existed before the ' 30s and has been maintained till date , and yorkshire seems to have a lot of that . they really seem to respect their heritage and look after it .
errol hodder , who was a wool presser in queensland at the time of the strike . he later went onto become a shearer , a secretary of the australian workers union and became a commissioner on the australian industrial relations commission in 1991 ( since retired )
vivid details and a strong lead performance make an engrossing film about a strong - willed female dock worker crucial to the birth of the solidarity union in poland .
mr al belushi has taken time out of his day job as a freelance interpreter to appear in the film after seeing akshay kumar walk into a hotel in leeds .
gold ' s location manager martin walker says it is becoming more difficult and expensive to film in london .
the costs are becoming prohibitive ,
he says .
during the post - production editing process , smith screened a workprint of the film to his friends and fellow directors robert rodriguez and quentin tarantino for feedback and tweaks .
bradford - which became the first unesco city of film in 2009 - has been the gold production team ' s base as well as providing a number of filming locations .
with over 32 songs on the official soundtrack and more used in the movie—including one song from the doors on the soundtrack and four others in the film—all of the bands featured in the film were american , and that was not a coincidence . “all the material in there is american , ” joel sill , the film’s executive music producer , told the los angeles daily news . “bob [ zemeckis ] felt strongly about it . he felt forrest wouldn’t buy anything but american . ” though formed in england and not in the u . s . , fleetwood mac contributed a song to the film and the 2001’s special collector’s edition soundtrack . fans liked the soundtrack so much it went on to sell 12 million copies worldwide .
film , was one of the leaders . she actually worked at [ inaudible ] high school when i was there . so i also developed that work and got the leadership training .
in queenland the strike lasted from january 1956 until october , although it had finished earlier in the year in nsw and victoria . it held up the shearing for months on end and was seen as a major victory for the shearers and the awu who had managed to get the old rates reinstated .
i rank him in the top five actors in bollywood ,
says suhail al belushi , from leeds , who is one of more than 5 , 000 local extras in the film .
it ' s given the city a renewed confidence ,
he says .
the phone in the film office rings off the walls some days . every week there ' s a significant enquiry .
there are blows that were recorded on film that were like death blows . it was really , really awful . and when that footage was finally discovered in 1995 , when the research was being done for the
in the past , bollywood film - makers might have recreated british castles or stately homes in state - of - the - art studios in india - but now they are increasingly using the real thing , she says .
although gellert had sympathy for the shearers and their decision to strike , others such as noel creevey , had little regard for them . creevey , a former assistant police commissioner in queensland , was a young constable in winton during 1956 . he was often called on to break up brawls between rival shearers in town and reckons the ringleaders were nothing but trouble makers .
during the first scene of shel picketing in front of the governor ' s house , one side of the the home - made sign he is carrying reads
vote for conrad welling
and the other side , facing the street , reads
strike for gay marriage .
in the subsequent picketing scenes , both sides of the sign read the latter message .
sometimes they don ' t come to fruition but more often than not they do , and we ' ve now gained a reputation as a film - friendly city , and we ' re reaping the rewards of that .
the falls is a feature film about two missionaries that fall in love while on their mission . rj travels to a small town in oregon with elder merrill to serve their mission and teach the . . . see full summary »
( 1994 ) , no cigarette brands are ever named , although many packs are sold throughout the film . at the end of this movie , the quick stop only carries
nails
cigarettes , a fictional brand shown in some of
and they are increasingly going outside london . yorkshire and humber had the fastest - growing film and tv industries in the country between 2009 - 15 , according to screen yorkshire , an agency that has been crucial to the area ' s success .
it’s great to be with you , as well . so , you made this film . it airs this week . and the students — high school students like those you were with 38 years ago are walking out . what are your thoughts ?
following jersey girl , smith initially signed on to direct the film adaptation of the green hornet . instead , he opted to return to his roots with clerks ii because the pre - production on the green hornet became too impersonal for the director .
on that note , i want to thank you all for being with us . luis rodriguez , jasmine chavez , high school student , one of those walking out , and finally , we want to thank moctesuma esparza , award - winning film producer .
the mooby’s restaurant in the film was a former burger king located in buena park , california . the restaurant was slated to be torn down , but the demolition was delayed for the movie , which took it over for the 30 - day shoot .
but this was just a film set , and doncaster racecourse was doubling as berlin ' s 1936 olympic stadium . it will appear in gold , an epic new bollywood movie that tells the story of india ' s olympic hockey players in 1936 and 1948 .
lifelong platonic friends zack and miri look to solve their respective cash - flow problems by making an adult film together . as the cameras roll , however , the duo begin to sense that they may have more feelings for each other than they previously thought .
had delivered the finished sci - fi film , the production and distribution company decided to eliminate the sci - fi space - alien elements and replace them with another plot about a super - addictive drug that turns its users into superhuman killers . they called back a few of the lower - paid actors for re - shoots , re - dubbed the majority of seagal ' s dialog via adr , totally re - edited the film and changed it into
attack force
as it is now known . seagal and halpin were not involved .
this was a wonderful film with lots of heart . the other people in the audience that i saw it with clapped at the end just like i did . how many films are there about the world of gymnastics ? it was original , and the kids were a lot of fun . the writer - director also wrote bring it on , another wonderful film , tighter script - but not as much heart . the cast was good ; the lead can act and her two guy buddies played it well . jeff bridges is always fun . i suppose if i had to make one criticism it would be that the first half moved a little slow and some of the camera work was uneven : focus was soft in places , and sometimes the composition was neither here nor there . but i recommend this film .
marshall lawson loses his strike - team in a cold - blooded and seemingly random attack . after this he takes it upon himself to investigate the suspicious circumstances of the brutal killings . soon he uncovers ctx majestic , a covert military operation so secret , that now the military wants marshall eliminated . resolute in his pursuit , marshall engages in a merciless battle with a drug dealer operation that appears to be secretly funded by a rogue arm of the military .
you ' ve got the initial production phase , but that also leads to people thinking , do you know what , we might go there . we might go to yorkshire . it looked brilliant in that film . and so it does dovetail very much into that whole tourism offer .
actor jeff anderson ( who plays randal ) didn’t want to appear in clerks ii because he had been typecast after the first film . smith told anderson over lunch that clerks ii was a movie they all needed to make . anderson later said he was persuaded by smith’s confidence in the material .
i guess this is totally enjoyable entertainment if you are uneducated and uninformed . comments by other viewers are shocking
a good theory ? ? ?
the sun catches fire ? ? ?
my god i hope that is not the level of intelligence being produced by todays education system . this movie is the biggest load of bs i have ever had the misfortune to witness on a tv screen . the kind of screenplay i would expect from an 11 year old and if it was an 11 year old writing the screenplay i would understand and say ; ' not bad kid . keep on trying . ' if it wasn ' t for the cheap production and obvious low budget i would say that this movie reeks of global elitist scare mongering for their global warming campaign to have even more taxes implemented on an already overtaxed population . but surely they could afford a much higher budget and overall better actors ( with the exception of lou gosset jr and a few others - indeed the fact that they can keep a straight and serious demeanor through out the film shows that those few actors really are outstanding in their craft ) but i suspect this film is aimed to appeal to the truly stupid people . the types who get robbed by nigerians offering them millions for the low registration fee of $ 300 and their bank account details . . . . . i would recommend film students ( screen writers , directors & actors ) watch this film as an example of what they should aspire not to create regardless of how much money they are paid . i was going to rate this film a 2 but i opted for a 1 because a 2 would really be stretching the bounds of truth , reality and justice ( just like this film does from start to finish ) .
we are joined on the line by now by award - winning film producer and community activist , moctesuma esparza . he is the executive producer of “walkout , ” based on the historic 1968 student walkout in los angeles which he helped organize . esparza and 12 others were arrested and jailed for conspiracy to disturb the peace . they became known as the east la 13 . esparza is portrayed in the film by bodie olmos , son of the movie’s director , edward james olmos” son . and esparza’s real - life daughter , tonantzin esparza , plays vickie castro , a protester who went on to become a principal and a school board member .
much of the movie was filmed in savannah , georgia and parts of south carolina , including hunting island and fripp island . they were stand - ins for some of the vietnam sequences—including where bubba dies—because of their dense palm trees and jungle - like forests . the military film g . i . jane was also filmed on hunting island .
for the pastoralists however , it was a time of great uncertainty . grant lillyman , the former owner of
kara
in richmond , queensland , remembers the graziers forming their own shearing gangs to get the work done , although many had never picked up a shearing handpiece in their lives . lady pearl logan , who with her late husband sir douglas logan owned richmond downs in queensland , recalls that it was the women who often had to step in to keep the properties going while their grazier husbands were away shearing . lady logan learnt how to class wool during the strike .
this movie is a great use of dallas talent ( crew and actors ) . this movie proves that dallas is a contender in film - making . scarlet mcalister gives one of her best performances ! the camera work is great , the effects are realistic and the story is interesting . plus there ' s a great twist . this movie proves that if you have a good story and a great crew and actors , you don ' t need a huge hollywood budget . this movie is fast paced , exciting and fun to watch ! for a low budget movie this is remarkable . great job ! i ' ll be watching for your next film ! support your independent filmmakers - rent striking range ! you won ' t be sorry .
the idea was supposed to be that he is taken in by god - like entities , creatures of pure energy and intelligence with no shape or form . they put him in what i suppose you could describe as a human zoo to study him , and his whole life passes from that point on in that room . and he has no sense of time . it just seems to happen as it does in the film .
on july 6 , 1994 , forrest gump arrived in theaters and became a box office behemoth ( almost $ 1 billion worldwide in today’s dollars ) . the oscar - winning film starring tom hanks as a lovable lummox entered the name “forrest gump” into the zeitgeist , and generated the simile catchphrase , “life is like a box of chocolates . ” here are a few things you might not have known about the robert zemeckis classic .
moctesuma esparza , i wanted to ask , one of the poignant parts of this film is the student saying , after the video footage and seeing lots of photographers there documenting police brutality against the high school kids , they felt this would be a turning point . and then they turned on their televisions , and they looked at the papers , and they didn’t see any of those images . can you talk about the coverage in 1968 ?
as io9 points out , this kubrick video may be a little “too good to be true , ” especially since there’s no definitive visual evidence that he’s actually talking . still , the explanation does hold weight when taken with clarke’s writing , but after 50 years and countless essays and theories on the subject , it ' s doubtful that this will put an end to the discussions on one of the most complex endings in all of film .
novelist winston groom published forrest gump the book in 1986 . when it came out it sold a modest 30 , 000 copies in hardback , but by 1995—after the success of the film adaptation—it had sold 1 . 6 million copies in paperback . in 1995 groom wrote a sequel , gump & co . , and in 1994 the bubba gump shrimp co . cookbook was released , with a foreword written by groom . the cookbook existed before the restaurant chain and has no affiliation with it .
initially , smith wanted his wife to play becky , but producer weinstein wanted a star for the role . bryce dallas howard , sarah silverman , ellen pompeo , liv tyler , and rachel weisz all passed on the part—howard had scheduling conflicts with the film lady in the water , silverman didn’t want to be typecast as the “girlfriend , ” pompeo had scheduling conflicts with the television show grey’s anatomy , tyler couldn’t commit because she had recently given birth , and weisz simply didn’t want to appear in the movie . eventually , rosario dawson was cast as becky .
in poverty , she found strength . in oppression , she found courage . in solidarity , she found a reason to believe again . acclaimed german actress katharina thalbach ( the tin drum , sophies choice ) stars in this hard - hitting historical drama set during the rise of polands solidarity movement . an illiterate single mother , agnieszka kowalska is a socialist
heroine of labor
for working long hours as a shipyard welder until her superiors deny compensation to the widows of 21 workers killed in an industrial disaster . risking her job , her life , and the love of her son to defy the bureacracy , agnieszka inspires the largest labor strike in world history and becomes a national hero . volker schlöndorff adapted this
ballad based on historical events
from the biography of anna walentynowicz , the free trade activist who mobilized a million poles for solidarity and helped hasten the fall of communism . filmed entirely on location at polands lenin shipyard , where history was made .
, based on the historic 1968 student walkout in los angeles , which he helped organize . esparza and twelve others were arrested and jailed for conspiracy to disturb the peace . they became known as the east l . a . 13 . esparza is portrayed in the film by bodie olmos , son of the movie’s director , edward james olmos . and esparza’s real - life daughter , tonantzin esparza , plays vickie castro , a protester who went on to become a principal and a school board member . moctesuma esparza joins us on the line from california , headed to mexico today . we welcome you to democracy now !
the camera moves around the immobile figures and slowly approaches them in open - ended sequences of shots , which favour the transition from one space to another . the content of all the films received the same hierarchical treatment , similar photography and similar treatment of detail . moves are slow and silent , as if the normality of the scene could be altered . even when the human activities have been paralysed , time has not stopped . and there is plenty of evidence for this , which framis deliberately intensified in the film footage : a flickering light , a telephone ringing , an automatic door opening , the steam from a machine and so on .
the movie holds the # 12 position on imdb’s top 250 movie chart , but many critics either loved the movie or really hated it . in his 1994 review , roger ebert gave forrest gump four stars and called it “a magical movie , ” whereas entertainment weekly gave it a “c” rating and said it “reduced the tumult of the last few decades to a virtual - reality theme park : a baby - boomer version of disney’s america . ” in 2014 , la weekly revisited the movie and said , “the film is so afraid to dredge up debate that when abbie hoffman hands forrest the microphone at an anti - war rally , someone unplugs the speakers so we can’t hear him—fitting for a movie with nothing to say . ” ouch .
we made this movie to be an actual manual on how to organize , you know , what the risks are , what has to be thought of , and what could happen , and what needs to be done . and prior to its airing on march 18 , from mid - february to the actual airdate , eddie olmos and i went on a over a 20 - city tour where we presented this movie to over 15 , 000 people , who all just completely gave themselves to the movie and the experience of the movie and what the movie was talking about . and so , i’ve been getting back reports continually that many young people have seen this film and have been inspired by its message and are applying its tactics and strategies to the current situation .
how is that possible ? well , the los angeles times broke the outlays down : paramount had to pay $ 61 . 6 million in distribution fees to theater owners , then it had to subtract $ 73 . 5 million toward advertising and making prints of the film ( today , digital is much cheaper ) . the budget cost paramount $ 50 million . then , hanks and zemeckis took about $ 61 . 8 million for their fees ( they signed a back end deal where they’d receive a share of the profits instead of a salary ) , and finally , theater owners took their cut of $ 159 million . after all was said and done , paramount’s gross receipts were about $ 191 million . when the movie was released on video in 1995 , it sold millions of copies .
humphreys’ first of only two movie roles was depicting forrest as a child . instead of pursuing a hollywood acting career , humphreys joined the army and did an 18 - month tour of duty in iraq . after he joined the military , he tried to conceal the fact he starred in the blockbuster film , but his platoon discovered the truth . “i definitely got a lot of it in the ear after that and the drill sergeants would really mess with me about it , ” he told the daily mail . another fact : humphreys’s alabama - inflected drawl caused hanks to base forrest’s voice on it . “when i was a kid i had this deep southern accent that the director , robert zemeckis , quickly picked up on and tom hanks liked so much that he ended up copying me and building his own accent around the way i spoke , ” humphreys said .
i tried restarting the movie twice . i put it in three machines to see what was wrong . did steven seagal ' s voice change ? did he die during filming and the studio have to dub the sound with someone who doesn ' t even resemble him ? or was the sound on the dvd destroyed ? after about 10 minutes , you finally hear the actor ' s real voice . though throughout most of the film , it sounds like the audio was recorded in a bathroom . i would be ashamed to donate a copy of this movie to goodwill , if i owned a copy . i rented it , but i will never do that again . i will check this database before renting any more of his movies , all of which were ( more or less ) good movies . you usually knew what you were getting when you watched a steven seagal movie . i guess that is no more .
long before pratt was “pratt - ing” dinosaurs in jurassic world , he was a waiter at a bubba gump restaurant in maui . at the age of 19 , pratt was living in a van and waiting tables . “i don’t know if you’ve ever had a dining experience at the bubba gump shrimp co . , but they love a gregarious waiter who will get in your face and sing you birthday songs and do trivia , ” pratt told entertainment weekly . one day he waited on actress rae dawn chong , who subsequently offered him a role in her short film , the never - released cursed part 3 . “i was like , ‘you’re in the movies , right ? i always wanted to be in the movies , ”’ pratt said to chong . “she said , ‘you’re cute . do you act ? ’ i was like , f - - k it , ‘goddamn right i act ! put me in a movie ! ” bubba gump opened in 1996 and now has locations all over the world , including in the philippines and malaysia . ironically , there isn’t one in alabama , where forrest grew up .
( one quick thing when watching : don ' t make the same huge mistake roger ebert did and expect lucky number slevin to be a serious movie , the triviality of the characters is meant to be that way ) almost every thriller is set up so you know there is a twist coming . what makes a thriller stand out is when you forget it ' s a thriller . fight club is just an epic fighting movie . memento makes you concerned with figuring out what ' s going on , much like he is trying to do . the usual suspects has you guessing at how the boat incident came to be and who keyser soze is . all of them make you forget you ' re watching a thriller , and just leave you concerned with what is happening instead of what will end up happening . lucky number slevin does this brilliantly . with one of the best scripts i ' ve ever heard ( the film style and transitions are just as poetic ) , a very unique and entertaining set up for a story , and a constant introduction of interesting characters , it makes you forget why any of it is related to the opening scenes . whether or not you love the movie , you must respect what a masterpiece it is , the amount of thought that went into every line and transition is impressive and if you consider yourself a critic in any sense you won ' t be let down . now as far as lucky number slevin being compared to the usual suspects , i think slevin trumps . if any comparison is to be made , it ' s that slevin fixed all the problems with suspects . in the first five minutes i knew who the mastermind was because they showed him and had him talk , one of the most obvious things i ' ve ever seen . slevin doesn ' t do that , only one face is shown and that ' s because he is telling the story . also , suspects doesn ' t have anything really unique to it , the structure isn ' t that special , and besides a few good quotes it can ' t compare to slevin . slevin and suspects are completely different , and i would never think judge one from the other . if you want to see a pioneer for thrillers , see suspects . if you want to experience a script , story , and film style come together virtually flawlessly , see slevin .
wow , the return of the clerks , indeed ! i went to a pre - screening last night of clerks ii and let me say that it was actually really good . the title , as mr . smith explained , has been simplified to undersell the movie so fans and moviegoers in general will be pleasantly surprised when they see it . so here is my contribution to word - of - mouth advertising : if you liked anything about clerks i , go see clerks ii . more of the same and then some ; and then some more . i have always been hit - or - miss with kevin smith and , sadly , the original clerks was still my favorite of the group . and this movie is his best yet . ( in fact , the only way i can appreciate
mallrats
is to watch it with the audio commentary on . ) to me , mr . smith is a lot funnier when he ' s just add - libbing . he said during his q & a , last night , that they spent more time on this movie in pre - production than all the other movies combined and it shows . i am sure he was kidding but this movie is actually well written , very well acted ( rosario especially ; she is the topping that is going to make this movie sell ) , and just well thought out in general . good pacing ( especially with the sight gags , one after another ) and the decalogue that i ' ve come to appreciate is priceless . like the argument over which franchise has the better
return
movie ;
lord of the rings
or
star wars
. clerks ii has become my favorite movie of the summer and i hope it becomes the sleeper hit of the summer because it is just that good . oh , and kevin , if you ' re reading this , sorry about the title , i am sure you pondered it . maybe if you hadn ' t already used
jay and silent bob strike back
?
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a nearly illiterate woman becomes one of the founders of poland ' s solidarity union .
lakeith stanfield and his sorry to bother you director boots riley discuss the stress of filming sex scenes .
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a drama loosely based on jean bernard ' s nazi - era prison diary .
frenchman abel tiffauges likes children , and wants to protect them against the grown - ups . falsely suspected as child molester , he ' s recruited as a soldier in the 2nd world war , but very . . . see full summary »
the retired chief superintendent jakob franck who often had to inform relatives as a
death messenger
, now hopes to lead a life beyond the dead .
somewhere in the endless steppes of central asia lies a treasure . one man holds the key to it , a fragment of an ancient map . but in his restless quest , charles isn ' t looking for fame or . . . see full summary »
rita vogt is a radical west german terrorist who abandons the revolution and settles in east germany with a new identity provided by the east german secret service . she lives in constant . . . see full summary »
a teenager joins the resistance in nazi - occupied france during world war ii .
a historical drama that depicts the relationship between dietrich von choltitz , the german military governor of occupied paris , and swedish consul - general raoul nordling .
walter faber has survived a crash with an airplane . his next trip is by ship . on board this ship he meets the enchanting sabeth and they have a passionate love affair . together they travel . . . see full summary »
laschen , a german journalist , travels to the city of beirut during the fights between christians and palestinians to produce an essay about the situation . together with his photographer , he . . . see full summary »
elegant and educated bachelor , charles swann , moves in the most powerful and fashionable circles of paris in the 1890 ' s . when he falls in love with odette de crecy , a courtesan , his friends . . . see full summary »
in 1924 , oskar matzerath is born in the free city of danzig . at age three , he falls down a flight of stairs and stops growing . in 1939 , world war ii breaks out .
volker schlondorff has directed a gripping account of the slow progress of the worker ' s movement in poland over roughly 20 years , from the discontent of the sixties to the open rebellion of the eighties , eventually led by lech walesa . the lenin shipyards in gdansk are filmed to look appropriately forbidding - - the accident that claims the lives of 21 workers in 1970 is very well staged . the cynicism of the party bosses , the apathy and drunkenness of the workers and the passion of agnieszka , the crane operator who provides much of the impetus for change : these things are brought out vividly . katharina thalbach gives a fine performance as the worker who ' s not going to take any more , andrzej chyra is very good as walesa and pope john paul ii puts in an appearance via news footage .
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explore popular and recently added tv series available to stream now with prime video .
a near illiterate woman becomes one of the founders of poland ' s solidarity union . a cinematic tribute to the genuine working - class hero agnieszka kowalska ( played by katharina thalbach ) whose courage and zeal for justice fueled the solidarity movement in poland .
. . . also starring andrzej chyra as lech walesa . . . . director : volker schlöndorff . . . music by jean michel jarre
danzig - blood and tears live , provinssirock , seinäjoki , finland 15 . 06 . 2013
an interesting look at the roots of the solidarity movement in poland . it covers 20 years at the gdansk shipyard where the movement began , and it makes the viewer aware of the conditions there as well as the tensions within the workers and the communist party .
katharina thalbach is superb as the heroine , showing both her inner development as well as her physical aging . other standouts in the cast include andrzej grabowski as the old union president and andrzej chyra as the young walesa .
was filmed at the headquarters of the inditex clothing conglomerate , which owns fashion retailers such as zara , massimo dutti , bershka and pull & bear . we get to see a clear - cut model of a production system , a company where creative and intellectual work prevails , where ideas and personal networks are one of its main values . the physicality of the space inside this company building expresses the coexistence of different stereotypes and mentalities . we shot every department , the production space , the meeting places in between for the designers , directors and executives , and the retail stores .
production of cgac ( centro galego de arte comtemporáneo , santiago de compostela , spain .
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urltoken
this site is an archive for reference purposes only and content on these pages is no longer being updated . for current rural content , visit : urltoken .
in early 1956 , the federal industrial court and the state queensland industrial court agreed to a demand by the pastoralist industry to reduce the rates of pay for shearers around the country . after a rise in wool prices due to the korean war , prices had again started to slide and the graziers argued they could no longer afford to pay a prosperity loading to shearers .
what occurred next was one of the most protracted disputes in the industry ' s history with the australian workers union calling on all shearers to refuse to work for anything other than the old rates of pay . joe bukowski , then the secretary of the awu in queensland issued a statement saying ,
if i were a shearer i would not shear at the new rates ,
while bill gunn , president of the united graziers association , issued a call to the graziers -
you are in for the fight of your lives
.
the dispute pitted
old raters
against the scab labour of
new raters
and was marked by violence in many shearing towns throughout the country . the railway and maritime unions went out in sympathy and refused to transport
black
wool that had been shorn on the new rates .
one of the biggest protests in us history unfolded across america yesterday as more than a million demonstrators took to the streets to protest against proposals to toughen immigration law .
from new york to los angeles and more than 50 cities in between , they streamed out in their numbers , waving us , mexican and el salvadorean flags . most of the protesters were latino , reinforcing what for many was the true impact of the day : the emergence of a powerful latino political voice angry at a system which they say judges them good enough to work in the us but not good enough to be citizens .
a sea of white - shirted protesters 300 , 000 strong , chanting
si , se puede
(
yes , it can be done
) surged through los angeles . in chicago police said up to 400 , 000 protesters had taken part in a rally . other large demonstrations took place in denver , which saw 75 , 000 protesters , houston and san diego .
the street protests were the centrepiece of what organisers dubbed the great american boycott , or a day without immigrants .
with protesters urged to boycott shops and to stay away from work and school , it was hoped that the immigrant community , which is thought to include almost 12 million undocumented migrants , would be able to bring home its contribution to the us economy . there are about 35 million legal immigrants in the us .
the mood at the first of two demonstrations in los angeles was celebratory , with protesters streaming along broadway in the heart of downtown towards city hall .
i ' m here to support the people who work here and to demand full rights for all immigrants ,
said ricardo meneses , who came to the us from mexico 15 years ago .
we all come here to look for work . the only thing we can do now is demonstrate peacefully .
mr meneses , who described his job as an
agent
, said he was forgoing a day ' s income by attending the demonstration .
what does it matter ?
he asked .
around him the predominantly latino demonstrators blew whistles and banged drums , emotions and noise levels rising every time a police helicopter appeared overhead . banners in english and spanish raised the issues of the day :
the us is made by immigrants ,
read one ;
this is not democracy , it ' s hypocrisy ,
said another , referring to a bill passed by the house of representatives in december that would criminalise undocumented migrants as well as spending money to tighten border security .
one of the few white protesters , wearing an organic farms t - shirt , held a placard scrawled with the words :
pick your own lettuce today , whitey .
a latino protester wore a t - shirt reading
the sleeping giant has awoken
, referring to an immigration protest at the end of march which attracted half a million people to the streets of los angeles . the scale of that protest and others around the country shocked organisers , police and politicians , and helped to move the debate on immigration to the top of the agenda .
luis , 26 , who came from guatemala 14 years ago , said he had taken a day off from his work as a doctor ' s assistant because he thought that the contribution of immigrants should be recognised .
i think we ' re lucky to have so many immigrants here ,
he said .
i crossed a river and came here as an illegal and now i have a green card [ residency ] and a profession . i want others to have the same opportunity . the way we treat immigrants at the moment isn ' t just .
along broadway almost every business and shop had closed for the day . across the rest of the state and the nation the success of the boycott was more muted .
long beach , the country ' s biggest port , 30 miles south of los angeles , was reported to be quiet . districts across the country with large latino populations were said to be quieter than usual , and some large employers said they were shutting down for the day . tyson foods , the world ' s largest meat producer , closed about a dozen of its more than 100 plants . but overall the effect on the economy appeared to be less than organisers had hoped . other than communities with very high immigrant populations , most cities seemed to function normally .
many supporters of the protest against the immigration reform proposals currently before congress had expressed unease about the tactic of a boycott , arguing that it would alienate the business community , which has been a vocal supporter of what is termed
comprehensive immigration reform
, mixing tougher border security with a route to citizenship for those already in the country .
a second demonstration was planned for later monday in los angeles , allowing people to go to work and school before protesting . arnold schwarzenegger , california ' s governor , had expressed his disapproval of the demonstrations , while george bush said he did not support boycotts but did support comprehensive immigration reform .
what are they protesting about ? the debate over the estimated 12 million undocumented migrants in the us became critical with the passage of bill hr 4437 by the house of representatives in december . known as the sensenbrenner legislation , it would criminalise illegal immigrants , while toughening border control . crucially , it does not offer any route to citizenship for those already inside the us .


soul surfer is a 2011 american biographical drama film directed by sean mcnamara , based on the 2004 autobiography soul surfer : a true story of faith , family , and fighting to get back on the board by bethany hamilton about her life as a surfer after a horrific shark attack and her recovery .

the film stars annasophia robb , helen hunt , dennis quaid , and lorraine nicholson with carrie underwood , kevin sorbo , sonya balmores , branscombe richmond , and craig t. nelson .

filming took place in hawaii in early 2010 , with additional filming taking place in tahiti in august 2010 .

soul surfer was released in theaters on april 8 , 2011 in the united states and canada by a partnership between filmdistrict and tristar pictures , and was a commercial success , earning $ 47,088,990 on a $ 18 million budget , but received mixed reviews from critical audiences .

soul surfer ( film )

a film about her life , entitled soul surfer , will start production in january .
overall , soul surfer manages to entertain while delivering its powerful christian message , propelling soul surfer to the ranks of other powerful christian films like fireproof .
film based on the true story of teen surfer bethany hamilton will be company ' s first film .
based on the bethany ' s soul surfer autobiography and interviews with the family .
“soul surfer” is the latest film trying to tread the thin line between appealing and pandering to a faith - based audience .
bethany hamilton on the soul surfer set surfer bethany hamilton talks about her extensive involvement on the soul surfer movie set and what it ' s like having the real story of her life condensed into an hour and a half .
soul surfer has the girl lose her arm while dolphin tale has the dolphin lose her tail .
' jaws meets job ' : dennis quaid , helen hunt and annasophia robb in soul surfer .
doctors were not convinced she could recapture her championship form , but she was determined , and now the film soul surfer tells her story .
if you want to answer the questions ,
who starred in the movie soul surfer ?
and
what is the full cast list of soul surfer ?
then this page has got you covered .
this cast list of who was in soul surfer includes both lead and minor roles . ( 61 items )
soul surfer opens in u . s . theaters on friday , april 8 , 2011 . view the trailer below :
soul surfer cast list , listed alphabetically with photos when available . this list of soul surfer actors includes any soul surfer actresses and all other actors from the film . you can view additional information about each soul surfer actor on this list , such as when and where they were born . to find out more about a particular actor or actress , click on their name and you ' ll be taken to page with even more details about their acting career . the cast members of soul surfer have been in many other movies , so use this list as a starting point to find actors or actresses that you may not be familiar with .
dennis quaid , helen hunt , and annasophia robb , from left , in sean mcnamara ' s
soul surfer .
which is what happens in soul surfer , a true story of courage , determination and guts that deserves a more exciting approach . no doubt , the film will reach its target faith - based audience but a wider audience may elude the tristar release . however , if the film’s real - life heroine , bethany hamilton , promotes the film with enough personal appearances , soul surfer may break through to general audiences .
soul surfer is a drama based on the true story of a teenage girl who lost an arm in a shark attack but who went on to realise her dream of becoming a professional surfer .
in september 2010 , tristar pictures partnered with upstart company filmdistrict to release soul surfer . filmdistrict ' s original commitment was to show soul surfer in 300 theaters , but when executives viewed the final product , they committed to releasing the film in 2 , 000 theaters and investing $ 26 million in advertising for the movie .
hit the jump to check out the first image from the movie . soul surfer is slated to open on april 15 , 2011 .
director sean mcnamara will be at tower city cinemas today to show the film as the curtain drops on the 35th cleveland international film festival .
soul surfer
is the closing - night film and will be followed by a reception in tower city center . it also opens in theaters nationwide on friday .
based on the true story of professional surfer bethany hamilton , who undergoes massive physical and emotional trauma after suffering from a shark attack , soul surfer is an unapologetic christian film that has the capacity to hold the attention of its moviegoers from beginning to end .
heart of a soul surfer trailer ( documentary ) watch the heart of a soul surfer movie trailer for the documentary that tells the true story of the real bethany hamilton who lost her arm during a shark attack in 2003 . purchase the documentary in the column on the right .
, soul surfer will go out as a wide release via tristar pictures with a broad - based and integrated marketing campaign managed by filmdistrict .
sony pictures has released the first image from the upcoming sports drama soul surfer . the film tells “the true story of competitive teen surfer bethany hamilton , who lost her arm in a shark attack and courageously overcame all odds to become a champion again , inspiring millions worldwide through her sheer determination and unwavering faith . ” soul surfer stars dennis quaid , helen hunt , annasophia robb , and carrie underwood .
a “soul surfer” is a person who surfs for the sheer pleasure of it . stunning and compelling documentaries such as dana brown’s 2003 step into liquid , about soul surfer laird hamilton ( no relation to bethany ) , renewed the profile of surfing , raising it to an art form .
the upcoming film “soul surfer , ” slated for release in april , is based on the true story of spirited teen surfer bethany hamilton , who lost her arm in a 2003 shark attack , but courageously returned to her board and become a champion again months later .
but look hard enough and you can still find the odd gem . like soul surfer , for example . on a normal week , the trailer for soul surfer would have been dismissed out of hand . but it actually turns out that soul surfer has the potential to be one of this year ' s best films . on the basis of its trailer , it contains something for everyone . let ' s comb through it for proof .
bethany’s story hit the silver screen on april 8 , 2011 as the feature motion picture “ soul surfer ” starring annasophia robb . the film quickly became the # 1 grossing live action surfing film at the box office and was applauded with several accolades and top ratings .
soul surfer
is the inspiring true story of teen surfer bethany hamilton , who lost her arm in a shark attack and courageously overcame all odds to become a champion again , through her sheer determination and unwavering faith .
the first film to be released under the new deal between filmdistrict and sony pictures , soul surfer will go out as a wide release via tristar pictures with a broad - based and integrated marketing campaign managed by filmdistrict .
hamilton ' s faith is a key part of her story . ( the youth - group leader of her church is played in
soul surfer
by singing star carrie underwood , in her feature - film debut . )
amazingly , the cast and crew of soul surfer met with the real - life bethany hamilton numerous times throughout the making of the film , and have described her passion and faith as inspiring and contagious . knowing that those performing in the film share the very same faith that the film delivers adds greater value to the overall production , at least to this reviewer .
three years later , bethany and filmmaker becky baumgartner produced a documentary entitled “ heart of a soul surfer , ” which revealed bethany’s heart and perspective behind her story .
4 ) and don ' t worry if you ' re not into sexy girls in bikinis either , because soul surfer also has a great scene where a bunch of dimwitted boys in big shorts all hoot and bellow at each other while being topless on the beach . yet more evidence that soul surfer has gone the extra mile to please everyone .
soul surfer is the true story of teen surfer bethany hamilton , who lost her arm in a shark attack and courageously overcame all odds to become a champion again , through her sheer determination and unwavering faith . the official version from urltoken on march 13 , 2011
what is so impressive about soul surfer is its ability to reach a variety of audiences . the film can be characterized as an underdog sports story , only one that somehow manages to avoid the massive clichés that typically encompass films of that nature . so much more than the average sports story , however , soul surfer is truly about the kind of courage and fortitude that is not typically demanded from athletes , even among professional ones .
soul surfer is the inspiring true story of teen surfer bethany hamilton , who lost her arm in a shark attack and courageously overcame all odds to become a champion again , through the love of her family , her sheer determination and unwavering faith . the film features an all - star cast , including annasophia robb and helen hunt , with carrie underwood in her film debut , and dennis quaid . directed by sean mcnamara , the screenplay was by mcnamara , deborah schwartz . douglas schwartz and michael berk . soul surfer is based on the book by bethany hamilton , sheryl berk and rick bundschuh . the screen story by sean mcnamara , deborah schwartz , douglas schwartz , michael berk , matt r . allen , caleb wilson and brad gann . soul surfer opens everywhere , april 8th
soul surfer mirrors bethany hamilton’s life , one full of passion for people and god . bethany ' s eldest brother , noah hamilton ( who is also a producer on the movie ) and the rest of the family fought to keep faith in the film .
2 ) if you like classic surfing movies like point break and blue crush and surf ' s up and matthew mcconaughey ' s surfer , dude , then you ' ll also love soul surfer . because , as you can see , it also has some surfing in it .
last week i attended a pre - screening of soul surfer , the feature film about kauai surfer bethany hamilton , which opens in theatres nationwide on friday , and it elicited in me two diametrically opposed sets of emotions . first , there was the important group of feelings : the set that celebrates bethany hamilton as a beacon of inspiration and triumph in the face of adversity . the second ( and exponentially subordinate ) set of emotions i suppose any surfer shoulders was an obligation to dissect the film’s continuity as it relates to surfing .
thomas ' first role was as the titular character in the 2005 critically acclaimed film what ' s bugging seth and , later that year , he starred in the independent dark comedy sissy frenchfry , which was also a film festival winner . this was followed by starring roles in the cutting edge 2 : going for the gold , in which he performed many of his stunts , american pie : the naked mile , the award - winning independent film shelter , dance flick , burning palms , and the 2011 film soul surfer .
yes . the soul surfer real story reveals that he did call 911 for an ambulance but did not call her mother as depicted in the soul surfer movie . jeff waba , a family friend who had been at tunnels that morning , called her mom and informed her of the shark attack . a short while later , holt called cheri to tell her the extent of bethany ' s injury . -
other movie acting nominees ( alpha order ) : robert amaya ( courageous ) , justin bieber ( justin bieber : never say never ) , jim carrey ( mr . popper’s penguins ) , jessica chastain ( the tree of life ) , sam claflin ( pirates of the caribbean : on stranger tides ) , viola davis ( the help ) , robert duvall ( seven days in utopia ) , nathan gamble ( 25 hill ) , anthony hopkins ( the rite ) , dennis quaid ( soul surfer ) , martin sheen ( the way ) , annasophia robb ( soul surfer ) , kevin sorbo ( soul surfer ) .
russell crowe in the film
noah .
( niko tavernise / paramount pictures )
hollywood , may 8 , 2013 ( globe newswire ) - - stereo vision entertainment inc . ( otc : svsn ) announced today that ' baywatch ' creator and ' soul surfer ' writer michael berk will produce their 3d sci fi feature film and 3d video games series ' aubrey blaze ' .
» according to boxofficemojo . com , the top five “family faith based genre” films of all time are : narnia franchise ( 3 films ) , “passion of the christ” , “soul surfer” , “fireproof” and “courageous” .
impressed with the quality of the final product , tristar pictures greenlighted soul surfer to be released in 2 , 000 theaters instead of the original 300 the distributor had planned . opening on 8 april 2011 , the film was a box office success , earning over $ 43 , 000 , 000 domestically .
hugo was picked the best movie for families and captain america : the first avenger won the faith & freedom award for promoting american values , but soul surfer took home a best in show award for family movies .
bethany hamilton ' s opinion of the movie bethany hamilton and friend alana blanchard share their thoughts on the soul surfer movie , including what it was like hanging out with their onscreen counterparts annasophia robb and lorraine nicholson .
“soul surfer embodies an absolutely amazing story , wonderfully told by the filmmakers , and we’re thrilled to play a part in bringing this story to audiences this spring , ” says bersch , president , sony pictures worldwide acquisitions .
overall , hamilton hopes the film will give people a new perspective on her life . “a lot of people see me as soul surfer or that shark - attack victim , so this is kind of creating a new view for people to see , and hopefully they will be encouraged in their own journeys . ”
the inspiring true story of surfer girl bethany hamilton ' s courage and faith after a shark attack .
based on the true story of teen surfer bethany hamilton , the film earned a solid $ 11 . 1 million , scoring the best per - theater average ( $ 5 , 014 ) of any new wide release . while those sales might pale in comparison to the success of the comparable inspirational sports drama “the blind side” ( which earned $ 34 . 1 million ) , the film exceeded expectations . and like last year’s “secretariat , ” “soul surfer” is poised to go the distance in the marketplace .
an inspiring true - life story gets a less - than - inspired film dramatization . twitter
like in the movie , the soul surfer true story confirms that bethany was 13 - years - old on friday , october 31 , 2003 , when the shark attack occurred at tunnels beach on the north shore of kauai .
yes . as confirmed during our research into the soul surfer true story , the family attends the north shore christian church , which holds outdoor services in a tent . youth counselor sarah hill currently works for this church . -
new york , november 1 , 2010 – soul surfer is the true story of competitive teen surfer bethany hamilton , who lost her arm in a shark attack and courageously overcame all odds to become a champion again , inspiring millions worldwide through her sheer determination and unwavering faith . coming to theaters nationwide on april 15 , 2011 , this exciting feature film stars dennis quaid , helen hunt , annasophia robb , and carrie underwood in her film debut . the cast also includes lorraine nicholson , kevin sorbo and jeremy sumpter .
new york , november 1 , 2010 – soul surfer is the true story of competitive teen surfer bethany hamilton , who lost her arm in a shark attack and courageously overcame all odds to become a champion again , inspiring millions worldwide through her sheer determination and unwavering faith . coming to theaters nationwide on april 15 , 2011 , this exciting feature film stars dennis quaid , helen hunt , annasophia robb , and carrie underwood in her film debut . the cast also includes lorraine nicholson , kevin sorbo and jeremy sumpter .
. highlights include interviews with bethany shortly after the shark attack , bethany hanging out with the real alana blanchard , video from the set of the soul surfer movie , and her opinion of her onscreen counterpart , actress annasophia robb .
are shown , many of similar ( or possibly the inspiration for ) moments in the film .
“i came away really interested in using film to explore faith , ” mr . belin said .
a lot has changed for bethany hamilton since the last time her story was told on the big screen in 2011’s soul surfer — but fortunately for her fans , an upcoming documentary is filling in the pieces while reexamining her incredible past .
tom hamilton prayed for the best but expected the worst . he and his family , all devoted christians , thought they had lost their bid to keep an overt reference to the bible in the upcoming film soul surfer , based on the true story of hamilton’s daughter bethany , who , at age 13 , had her arm chewed off by a tiger shark in kauai but returned to her board to pursue her dream of becoming a pro surfer .
promotional efforts for “hidden figures” included a free concert by pharrell williams at the toronto international film festival in september . the film has no obvious religious method , but some pastors endorse its inspirational message .
• soul surfer ( spring 2011 ; sean mcnamara films / affirm films / sony pictures ) . dennis quaid , helen hunt , annasophia robb and carrie underwood star . a teen loses her arm in a shark attack but returns to surfing .
the film was directed by sean mcnamara from a screenplay by mcnamara , michael berk , douglas schwartz , and deborah bonann schwartz , with additional writing by ron bass , jen smolka and kara holden , and is based on bethany hamilton’s memoir “soul surfer : a true story of faith , family and fighting to get back on the board . ”
asked how she sees herself now , she replied :
a happy , little , famous surfer girl .
a shark attacks a young surfer . it happens quickly but ferociously , with lots of blood and some gore .
“to me the phrase ‘soul surfer’ is about finding your path , your walk with god – or your surf with god – and making the best of the ride , ” she said . “in the end , that is the most important . ”
with the headline : film review ; a teen - ager who ' s clear on her priorities .
biographical dramas about jazz musicians released at film festivals in 2015 and then to wide audiences in 2016 .
7 ) this is also the perfect film for fans of interminable scenes of bleak adolescent post - traumatic despair . there ' s plenty of those in soul surfer too . so it ' s good for misery fans , but even better for those who like their bleak post - traumatic despair intercut with scenes of dennis quaid whooping with his top off .
when a tiger shark attacked surfer bethany hamilton on a morning jaunt nearly eight years ago , she lost an arm as well as an estimated 60 percent of her blood . remarkably , she survived . the recently released film
soul surfer ,
based on the real - life story of a teenage surfer who had her arm bitten off by a shark , is hoping to attract a young female audience . the movie , which is being distributed by sony pictures’ tristar label and marketed by the studio ' s faith - based division affirm films and filmdistrict , was made for $ 18 million .
1 ) if you like sexy girls in bikinis – albeit sexy girls in bikinis who unfortunately appear to be caught in a perpetual state of mid - blink – who are surrounded by other sexy girls in bikinis , then you ' ll love soul surfer .
3 ) here ' s the real money shot , though – dennis quaid whooping with his top off , helen hunt in a nice hat and a younger man who , while clearly trying his hardest to imitate dennis quaid , obviously isn ' t dennis quaid . if you like any of those three things , then soul surfer is definitely the film for you .
does bethany hamilton wish the shark attack never happened ? a 21 - year - old bethany hamilton is interviewed in 2011 just prior to the release of the soul surfer movie . she discusses whether she wishes the attack never happened . her answer surprises the interviewer .
the best faith - based film ever made , an uplifting , entertaining and wonderfully - acted account of surfer bethany hamilton ' s life before and after a shark bit her arm off in the waters off her favorite hawaiian beach .
a month later , she was able to stand up . six months later , she competed in the junior surfing nationals . the following year , she took first place . the remarkable story of how she lived , let alone got back on a surfboard , is the subject of
soul surfer ,
the new film starring annasophia robb , dennis quaid and helen hunt .
before all this happened , hamilton says she would have been comfortable being described as a
happy little surfer girl .
seldom do people actually get their wish of having a hollywood actor portray them on the big screen . in the case of casting soul surfer , the production team needed to find a young actress who could carry the story while staying true to bethany’s passion for the water and love for god . cheri hamilton , bethany’s surfer mom , had a casting epiphany as she watched bridge to terabithia .
soul surfer is the inspiring true story of teen surfer bethany hamilton , who lost her arm in a shark attack and courageously overcame all odds to become a champion again , through her sheer determination and unwavering faith . the film features an all - star cast , including annasophia robb and helen hunt , with carrie underwood in her film debut , and dennis quaid . in the wake of this life - changing event that took her arm and nearly her life , bethany ' s feisty determination and steadfast beliefs spur her toward an adventurous comeback that gives her the grit to turn her loss into a gift for others .
soul surfer’s greatest attribute by far is its focus on christian and moral worldviews . throughout the film , god is praised through song , words , and actions , and it is bethany’s deep faith in jesus christ that ultimately sustains her throughout her ordeal . the film does not attempt to mask this deep - rooted faith either . in fact , soul surfer opens with upbeat gospel music being performed in a tent on the beach . likewise , when bethany is rushed to the hospital immediately following the shark attack , all of her loved ones are shown praying for her survival . and the moment in which bethany decides to embark on her life - changing mission trip to thailand , bethany had been grappling with a biblical passage that says god’s followers gain strength through him .
today marks round one of the hockey wilderness best hockey film tournament . we’ve got 12 competitors for the title .
as for her future as a surfer , hamilton said :
i think it doesn ' t matter if you are the best surfer in the world . i ' m going to try to be the best surfer i can be . it ' s not all about competing and being the best . it ' s more about having fun and just doing what you love .
i have watched a lot of surfing movies over the years but nothing as captivating as soul surfer . the acting is terrific but the locales make you want to move to hawaii . in most sports based movies you expect the star of the film to win . it is sort of a given . however , this movie expertly sets the viewer up for another kind of win . not just a trophy or a magazine cover but a win that takes the viewer done the road in his or her personal struggles . there is a lot of talk about faith based film but this film isn ' t really about faith it is about how to get up when you are down and make a difference . i have always been a big fan of dennis quaid and helen hunt especially her performance in castaway with tom hanks but she plays the mom in this film with perfection and although i never though of dennis as a surfer like patrick swayze he does his part as the girls father and couch perfectly . i went to the film expecting something good but i came away from the film having experienced something great .
soul surfer is the kind of film you want your kids to see . it is bursting with heart , inspiration and positivity , and it evokes a message about faith ( not necessarily the religious kind ) that anyone - child or adult - would be wise to heed . that the film is also based on a true story should lend more credence to the value of its ideals . by the end , when we see footage of the real - life individuals , some of us may be brought to tears .
but soul surfer is a much bigger bet . the poster and the trailer of the movie pitch it as an inspirational sports story for the masses — which it definitely is . but there’s no hint of the christian faith that bethany says was crucial to her recovery and athletic comeback .
as we have mentioned before , true stories should be among the best of christian movies . whether viewers or creators realize it or not , audiences everywhere connect better with a movie that’s about real people like them who experience real stuff . but after experiencing soul surfer , the audience doesn’t really learn anything else about bethany hamilton except that she surfed and stuff . this is no discredit to her as a person , since she is likely a nicer person than we are . but we remain opinionated as always : while still an average movie , soul surfer disappoints expectations .
last october , hamilton released a biography titled
soul surfer .
a movie based on the book starts filming this year . she won the 2004 espy award from espn for best comeback athlete , and janet jackson presented her with a special courage award at the 2004 teen choice awards .
for many in the surfing world , the term “soul surfer” ( coined in the 1960s ) often refers to someone who doesn’t compete , who surfs simply for the pleasure of surfing . bethany’s dad suggested the term as the title for her book many years ago , and the name stuck .
» “to me the phrase ‘soul surfer’ is about finding your path , your walk with god – or your surf with god – and making the best of the ride , ” she said . “in the end , that is the most important . ” – carrie underwood ( plays “sarah” )
annasophia robb , dennis quaid and helen hunt star in director sean mcnamara ' s idealized take on one - armed surfer bethany hamilton .
soul surfer is the inspiring true story of teen surfer bethany hamilton , who lost her arm in a shark attack and courageously overcame all odds to become a champion again , through her sheer determination and unwavering faith . the film features an all - star cast , including annasophia robb and helen hunt , with carrie underwood in her film debut , and dennis quaid . in the wake of this life - changing event that took her arm and nearly her life , bethany ' s feisty determination and steadfast beliefs spur her toward an adventurous comeback that gives her the grit to turn her loss into a gift for others . © 2011 enticing entertainment llc . all rights reserved .
while she enjoyed the dramatized version of her story in soul surfer , starring annasophia robb as hamilton and helen hunt as her mom , hamilton says the documentary “will be a really cool way for people to see a deeper look at my life and the journey i’ve been through , especially the success i’ve had as a professional surfer , and as a mom and in life — and doing it all at the same time . ”
urltoken - become a fan ! urltoken - follow us ! soul surfer hits theaters on april 8th , 2011 . cast : annasophia robb , dennis quaid , carrie underwood , helen hunt , lorraine nicholson , sean brosnan , kevin sorbo , chris brochu , jeremy sumpter a biopic centers on the surf icon ( robb ) who defied all odds to compete and win professional championships after losing her arm in a shark attack at age 13 . quaid and hunt play hamilton ' s parents , and underwood has taken on the role of a church youth leader . soul surfer trailer courtesy tristar pictures .
6 ) oh , and you ' ll also love soul surfer if you can ' t get enough of harrowing sequences where young girls are rushed to hospital for an emergency arm amputation following a vicious shark attack . because that happens . but , hey , who doesn ' t love that ?
religious leaders screened soul surfer before it was released commercially . the hamilton family protested when executives at mandalay pictures tried to reduce the film ' s religious content by digitally removing
holy bible
from the book tom is reading from in the hospital at bethany ' s bedside . additionally , the hamiltons wanted it to be known which verse of scripture sarah hill is quoting from when she reads jeremiah 29 : 11 .
for me soul surfing is just being passionate about the ocean and surfing . that’s what i am . i’m passionate about being out there and enjoying god’s creation .
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a trailer came out in august . in september , fox staged a publicity stunt at the toronto international film festival , showing 20 minutes of the film followed by a free concert by pharrell williams , who contributed to the score . another trailer followed . ads popped up on tv , billboards , bus shelters , websites . fox , which is releasing the film in 15 cities on christmas day , also lined up a partnership with pepsi and has backed the film with a robust oscar campaign .
“i’m super excited , it’s coming together amazingly , ” hamilton tells people of the film . “we’ve been working on it for the last three or four years , and it’s a raw , real version of my life story , highlighting my surfing career and all the different obstacles that i’ve overcome . i think soul surfer did an amazing job but i think this will be a very different version and it’s actually me . ”
hannah cornett , surfer , triathlete and model , arrives at the 2011 espy awards in los angeles , california , july 13 , 2011 .
teenage surfer bethany hamilton overcomes the odds and her own fears of returning to the water after losing her left arm in a shark attack .
most teenagers would give up after a shark attack . but not bethany hamilton she persists on after the shark attack she soon five years later she is a professional surfer and a world surfer champion . thanks to her best friend alana blencha and her faith in god and her family
the tomatometer score — based on the opinions of hundreds of film and television critics — is a trusted measurement of critical recommendation for millions of fans . it represents the percentage of professional critic reviews that are positive for a given film or television show .
jim caviezelplayedjesus christ in mel gibson ' s 2003 film
the passion of the christ .
( philippe antonello / ap )
nunally johnson immediately bought up the film rights to eve in response to the the bird ' s nest ' s 1954 success .
one is a french film loosely inspired by her story , while the other is a direct biopic from britain starring meryl streep .
her story has certainly been told repeatedly , including an autobiography and an earlier short doc , heart of a soul surfer , made by her sister - in - law . a lifelong surfer born to a family of hawaiian surfers , she lost her left arm in a 2003 shark attack when she was 13 . she returned to surfing a mere month after her harrowing ordeal and continues to compete in contests today , having perfected a one - armed surfing technique .
“putting a movie together is a long and arduous process that consists of many decisions , big and small , made by many people from development through the film’s release . as people who collectively have been involved in making movies for many decades , we are not looking to engage in discussions about the process of the intricate decisions that go into the filmmaking process , but rather have the film judged by what appears on the screen , ” the studio said . “mandalay is extremely proud of ‘soul surfer , ’ and we are excited to share this beautiful and inspiring story with the audience . ”
a teenage surfer from hawaii who lost her left arm in a shark attack made a splash in cornwall when she visited the county to go surfing .
three - time world champion surfer andy irons , who ' s been watching hamilton since she was 6 , says he ' s amazed by her .
as a film , soul surfer borders on cheese . it is so pure and innocent that we sometimes ask ourselves if it’s for real . but then , why can’t it be for real ? have we become so cynical we can’t believe loving , church - going families like the hamiltons actually exist ? most hollywood movies smother us with conflict and misanthropy but here is one that tries to charm us with optimism . perhaps it does go overboard with its high spirits , cheerfulness and hopeful dialogue , but such exaggeration could be a good thing for the film’s target audience , which is mostly families .
as a critic , i can’t say soul surfer is especially well made . it breathes the same air as a made - for - television drama , only with a bigger budget . but its inherent story makes it worth recommending . i think a documentary would have serviced the material better , evidenced by the engaging home video footage we see at the end , but if giving this story the hollywood treatment inspires kids and adults to be better people , it’s worth it . after seeing soul surfer , viewers are bound to look at the world in a more positive light and bethany is right when she says she embraces us . by the end , we feel it .
soul surfer debuted on april 8 , 2011 in 2 , 214 theaters across the united states and canada . it ranked fourth at the box office on its opening weekend , grossing $ 10 . 6 million . according to sony pictures ' statistics , 80 % of the audience was female , and 56 % were under 25 years old .
on land though , the film suffers from the hollywood - itis those sportswriter so frequently invoke . a fictional villain is created in a rival surfer , played by a perennially scowling sonya balmores , who ridicules and cheats bethany at every opportunity . the film uses a 2004 humanitarian aid trip to thailand by bethany following the devastating tsunami to give its heroine a sentimental shot in the arm to further motivate her to return to competitive surfing .
you wonder why this movie isn ' t a documentary , rather than a synthetic feature film with the heroine ' s arm digitally removed .
although i may be a sucker for heartfelt true stories , this film truly represents the courage and inspiration that bethany hamilton had not only on her peers , but her inspiration across the entire nation . annasophia robb was a perfect choice as the lead star and the entire cast holds their own as well . this film definitely is filled with hollywood cheese and some of the dialogue might be pretty corny at times , but the story is told so beautifully that the cheesy lines actually sent chills down my spine . the acting may be average , but why does such a moving story need amazing acting , it hides everything and makes you love all the characters . soul surfer is an extremely powerful story and i would really like to call it a great film , but it is not quite that high , because the film revolves around the shark that bit off her arm , which was done kind of poorly in my opinion and nobody reacted the way they were supposed to . overall , this film is very good and i was moved !
127 hours was nominated for six oscars ( including best picture and best actor for james franco ) , and several other awards , but only obtained a modest profit thanks to fox ' s mismanagement of the movie . soul surfer , on the other hand , received mixed reception from critics . additionally , while surfer earned much more than hours in the united states , it was invisible outside the states , resulting in a lower international box office than hours . hours is the victor in this one .
in 2004 , bethany hamilton published her autobiography “ soul surfer : a true story of faith , family , and fighting to get back on the board , ” in which she tells the moving story of her triumphant return to competitive surfing . the book has since become a # 1 new york times bestseller and continues to inspire readers worldwide .
no . the soul surfer true story reveals that malina birch is a fictional character . she was used to depict a variety of competitors bethany had encountered in her life . actress sonya balmores chung , who played malina , is not only friends with the real bethany hamilton but is also known for being first runner up in miss teen usa 2004 .
from watching hamilton ( played by angelic tween annasophia robb ) endure the psychological and physical struggle of re - learning to slice an orange ( she uses her feet to stabilize the fruit ) to choking up as she catches her first wave with her family since the shark attack , her story is unquestionably moving . the guy sitting next to me , who reeked of whiskey and cigarettes ( at a soul surfer premiere ? c’mon man ! ) , was wiping away tears the whole way through , which is why soul surfer might become the most successful surf film ever made : it’s universally inspiring , and it sticks to an uncomplicated message of resilience and courage ( using blonds in bikinis and a katy perry soundtrack shouldn’t hurt either ) . it’s also based on a true story , which magnifies any allure the ocean already possesses over the uninitiated .
according to hamilton , director sean mcnamara also was integral in keeping faith a focus of the film , as it is in bethany’s personal life .
the promise was financed by the late kirk kerkorian , who wanted to finally make a hollywood film about the armenian genocide ; the ottoman lieutenant was financed by the son of turkey ' s president erdogan and is seen by many as a film made to counter the promise with genocide denial .
the film was independently financed by enticing entertainment and island film group , and is a production of mandalay vision , brookwell mcnamara entertainment and life’s a beach entertainment . north american and substantial international rights were acquired prior to the commencement of production by the affirm films division of sony pictures worldwide acquisitions .
the dust - up over soul surfer illuminates hollywood’s increasingly awkward dance with the faith - based community . after years of neglecting religious audiences , studios now know that appealing to the christian - values set while also bringing in more secular crowds can lead to an across - the - board blockbuster like blind side ( domestic box office : $ 256 million ) .
i like how the rottentomatoes consensus put it :
there ' s an amazing true story at the heart of soul surfer - - and unfortunately , it ' s drowned by waves of hollywood cheese .
yup , with material like this , it ' s hard to go wrong , but boy , it was freaking cheesy . i found myself cringing a lot at the laughably and poorly written dialogue , the mediocre acting ( sorry carrie underwood , you ' re a devout christian and an excellent musician , which is all very inspiring , but acting ain ' t your thing ) , and the poor execution in storytelling .
what ' s up , disney channel ?
as a christian , i find myself cringing at the attempt to make an inspiring christian - themed movie , but surprisingly ,
soul surfer
as a christian movie , wasn ' t that bad compared to the many other christian movies . let me tell you , there are some horrifyingly , awful christian movies out there . you ' ll be pleasantly welcomed by the b - movie feel
soul surfer
has . it ' s not preachy or pretentious ; deep down , there ' s a lot of purity and heart injected into this movie . there ' s a particular scene involving the bethany , the main protagonist , that effectively agitates the audience ' s emotions , all without a word being said . even the message was good - hearted , pure , and a relief , especially among a movie industry filled with dark and unsettling themes . surprisingly ,
soul surfer
as a christian movie , manages to catch a couple of waves , but that ' s where it ends . the movie suffers from horrible pacing issues , mainly due to the fact that the incident that occurs , and the result afterwards are the only solid material
soul surfer
has for its narrative . the spaces in between are nothing more than fillers , and what dull fillers they are . the editing is sporadically all over the place , and the dialogue makes me shudder . phew , this is one big cheeseball . nevertheless , it ' s a good movie for children and is a surprisingly effective christian - themed film - - just don ' t take your film critique crew to watch this . there is an amazing true story at the heart of soul surfer - - and unfortunately , it ' s drowned by waves of hollywood cheese . . . to the max .
director cary fukunaga’s eventempered film gently turns the spotlight onto jane ; after all , it is her story . jamie bell , who danced his soul out in 2000’s billy elliott , is excellent as the unbending young minister . i was moved at the end , but i will not tell you why . you have to see it for yourself .
as in the soul surfer true story movie , in january 2004 she placed fifth in the open women ' s divison of the nssa regional competition . a year later , in 2005 , she won her first national title by placing first in the explorer women ' s division of the 2005 nssa national championships . she went pro in 2007 and still competes today .
however , it appears as though the uplifting story hit a sour note with the film ' s producers where the family ' s christianity was concerned .
based on a great true story of bethany hamilton , whom we maintain is an excellent christian role model , soul surfer falls short of capturing the depth and meaning of the true story . realistic events obviously happen throughout , but we cannot help but think this movie would have been less realistic were it not bound by real life events . in the midst of hawaiian beaches , surfing lingo , wave scenery , and surfing competitions , the characters are left shallow and wooden . the audience cannot connect with them as real people—they are just characters that are swept along by the plot . dialogue is stiff and procedural , leaving much to be desired . the plot ebbs and flows , sometimes hitting high points and missing them other times . the christian message is vague at first , then becomes very clear and meaningful , and then fades away again . the ending is interesting enough , but it just ends up washing away like the tide ( pun intended ) . the audience is left thinking that they should like the movie because it’s a christian movie based on a true story , but soul surfer is actually quite forgettable and disappointing . true stories are usually undiscovered treasures when it comes to the big screen , but soul surfer is just another average film .
to be honest , soul surfer gets off to an iffy start , full of cheesy shots of beachy fun in the sun . the characters , especially bethany ' s parents , seem one - dimensional and unrealistically saintly ; they just don’t seem real . but the minute tragedy strikes - - and does it ever - - the movie finds its footing . it roots its way into your conscience with its determined ( but not pushy ) message about digging into your soul - - could that be the reason for the title ? - - for the wherewithal to continue .
while the pg - rated flick was bound to include a few clichés , i honestly think soul surfer did an admirable job honoring a young professional surfer’s unlikely story . aside from the fact that there are enough rip curl logos to fill a decade’s worth of catalogs ( a rip curl rash guard actually saves bethany’s life : the ultimate case of product placement or meticulous attention to accuracy ? you decide… ) and the film portrays the hamilton family’s relationship with the ocean ( and each other ) with disneyish simplicity , its realism should satisfy the target demographic . more important , it provides a window into some of the intimate moments of bethany’s recovery from the shark attack of oct . 31 , 2003 .
hours , from danny boyle , focuses on aron ralston , a hiker who is forced to cut off his own arm to save himself after five days of having his arm trapped by a boulder . surfer , from sean mcnamara ( the director of bratz ) , focuses on bethany hamilton , an evangelical christian surfer who loses an arm from a shark attack . the main difference between these two films is their intended audience : while hours aims for a secular / mainstream audience , surfer is intended for the christian market .
9 ) if you ' re still not convinced about soul surfer , don ' t forget that it contains a scene where a woman who once won american idol hamfistedly emotes at an amputee in a vaguely religious way . surely that ' s a dealbreaker , isn ' t it ? isn ' t it ? anyone ? honestly , you people are impossible to please sometimes .
soul surfer reveals bethany’s fight to recover from her ordeal and how she grappled with the question of her future . strengthened by the love of her parents , tom ( dennis quaid ) and cheri ( helen hunt ) , and supported by her youth group leader sara ( carrie underwood ) , bethany refuses to give in or give up , and begins a bold return to the water .
the film also includes kauaian actress sonya balmores chung , who plays malina birch , a competitive foil to hamilton’s unimpeachable kindness . for all intents and purposes , birch is a heartless saboteur , and although hamilton asserts that her character is entirely fictionalized , a young female surfer might have some bad karma coming her way if that’s not the case .