Taylor Steele’s new surf feature, Missing, zeros in on the thrice world champion, Mick Fanning, at the height of his powers. Only Andy Irons has taken it to Slater more robustly than White Lightning and only MR and Slater own more titles. 2013 was a huge year for Fanning, climaxing with his third world title victory at burly Pipe. But this film isn’t about any of that. It starts off a world away from the pro tour in an African jungle. Like so many surf movies before it there is a pursuit underway. Only this time it’s not for mysto tubes, it’s for gorillas in the mist. Before too long, Mick is running wild-eyed down a cobbled street pursued by a score of Pamplona bulls. So, to be clear, this is not your standard surf flick.
You can imagine the headlines that would have resulted if this ambitious project had gone array. “World Champion Gored by Spanish Bull” or “Surf Hero Dismembered by Rwandan Gorilla”. Make no mistake this was a ballsy project for an elite athlete to undertake in the middle of a world title campaign. Fanning is no stranger to the calamity that can beset a travelling surfer. He notoriously tore his hamstring clean off the bone while on a photo trip in Indonesia. It could have snuffed his career. Instead it led to a fitter, stronger, more focused athlete who went on to dominate the sport.
But while Fanning’s phenomenal competitive success has deservedly garnered much hype and accolades it’s also led to him being pigeon-holed as Mr Supreme Athlete. Missing succeeds in showing another side of the man: a humble, good-humoured, knock-about bloke who’s engaged with and fascinated by the world around him.
Taylor Steele directs the film and chose the exotic locations which were kept a surprise from the star of the show. Steele is a perfect fit for the project. After devoting his early career to high fi movies he has focused on finely crafted, award-winning travelogues (see: Sipping Jetstreams and The Drifter). Like them, his one is beautifully filmed and artfully scored. The scenery breathes. You feel like you are right there with Mick for much of the journey.
But the strength of Missing will also be its weakness for some. If you want non-stop surf action this is not the film for you. The surfing is excellent, the cast A-grade and many of the waves have never been seen before. Highlights include the chopper session with John John Florence, Tom Curren’s refined tube craft in Indo and Fanning and Parko trading Cloudbreak bombs. One complaint: the film is billed as running for 53 minutes but the feature finishes at the 33 minute mark. The final 20 minutes are a serious of interviews with the cast and crew which would normally fall under the extras banner. That noted because it’s such a singular project the behind the scenes stories are interesting. Plus, there’s an important message about smuggling socks into Rwanda. Don’t be tempted.
