TEXT: soul surfer 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.