‘The Blind Sea’ – Review
50 Foot Wave. 3% vision. This is the story of Matt Formston, an Australian athlete born with what some would label a debilitating condition, but Matt’s limited sight has stopped him from becoming a three-time World Champion in Blind Surfing, along with being an Paralympic athlete, and The Blind Sea focuses on his vision to surf the big waves of Nazaré to their fullest.
The Blind Sea is an inspirational documentary about blind surfer Australian Matt Formston (3x World Champion blind surfer). Matt was diagnosed with Macular Dystrophy at the age of five, which left him with only 3% of his vision. This powerful documentary shares some of the processes that have enabled Matt to succeed – in the water and out – hie aims to inspire the next generation. The Blind Sea follows Matt around the world, as he pushes his mettle to the limits and attempts his most fearsome and dangerous challenge yet, breaking the world record for a blind surfer and surfing the monster waves of Nazaré.
If you’re looking for inspiration, then you’ll find it in Daniel Fenech’s The Blind Sea, which charts the life journey of Australian athlete and surfer Matt Formston as he takes on the biggest challenge of his sporting life and seeks to surf the big waves of Nazaré. Adding to the challenge is that Matt has been legally blind since the age of five. Diagnosed with macular dystrophy, Matt has severely limited eyesight, but this has not stopped him from living his life to the fullest and taking on massive challenges to keep pushing himself to the limit. Both a Paralympian athlete and a three times World Champion blind surfer, Matt is not one to back down from a challenge, and audiences get a keen insight into his life as a surfer and his unique use of feeling, touch and connection with the waves that have made him the athlete who he is today.
A major focus of The Blind Sea is on the idea of defying limitations, and throughout this documentary, time and time again, we see Matt defy the odds that have been placed in front of him. Whether it’s via mother nature or through his own disability, Matt keeps pushing through, and his iron will and desire to push himself ever forward makes for an amazing and powerful lesson for audiences. Along with highlighting Matt’s immense willpower and desire to push himself ever forward, Fenech highlights his incredible support network around him and showcases how we can accomplish much more when we work together. The Blind Sea is not only a testament to Matt, but also his large group of family and friends who are behind him all the way, and as he gets set to take on the monster waves of Nazaré, he needs all the belief and support behind him.
Whether you’re a surf fan or just want to marvel at the sheer ferocity and power of modern nature, The Blind Sea will have you gripping your seat for dear life when the ferocity of Nazaré is unleashed. Regarded as one of the most dangerous waves in the world, and where even able-bodied surfers fear to tread, this is the sacred surfing waters where Matt looks to ultimately test himself, and it’s damn explosive to watch. Fenech brings a heightened tension to these scenes, and he puts you right into the water next to Matt as he takes on these waves. The surfing footage present in The Blind Sea makes for an incredibly visceral and immersive viewing experience, and there’s a sense of pure adrenaline when Matt finally takes to the waters of Nazaré.
The Blind Sea is an inspiring, contemplative and beautiful picture of man’s connection to water and of the need to ride the wave as big as you can. All who witness it will be spellbound by what they see, and this is one of the most enjoyable documentary film experiences you’ll witness all year.
Image: Bonsai Films
