New Int'l. Release

Bra Boys

 (Documentary -- Australia)

By RICHARD KUIPERS

A Hopscotch Films release of a Bradahood Prods., Garage Industries production. (International sales: Hopscotch, Sydney.) Produced by Sunny Abberton, Mark Lawrence. Executive producers, Nicholas Cook, Lawrence, John Mossop.
Directed, written by Sunny Abberton. Co-director, Macario De Souza.
 

An infamous surfer gang located at Sydney's Maroubra beach leaps to its own defense in "Bra Boys," a fatally one-eyed docu made by senior members of the working-class fraternity. Name-brand notoriety should propel moderate local biz, with a smattering of fest engagements likely to follow. Prominent billing of narrator Russell Crowe may assist the grungy assemblage in local release.

Formed around Abberton brothers Koby, Jai and debuting co-helmer Sunny, the gang has been making tabloid headlines since the mid-'90s for turf wars, drunken brawls and scrapes with police. Opening with a bright history lesson about poor suburb Maroubra and its place in Sydney beach culture, the docu then fails to adequately answer any charges as members and sympathetic locals line up to praise the outfit for rescuing troubled youth. Lengthy coverage of a murder trial involving Jai and Koby supplies the odd moment of meaningful reflection, but the overall impression is that of an unconvincing PR exercise. Murky vid sources are cruelly exposed on 35mm, though the soundtrack rocks. Print caught cited Crowe as an executive producer -- a credit which has since been removed.

Camera (color, DV-to-35mm), De Souza, Brooke Silvester; editor, De Souza; music, Jamie Holt. Reviewed at Reel Room Theatrette, Sydney, Feb. 7, 2007. Running time: 86 MIN.
Narrator: Russell Crowe.