Director: Jon Long
MPAA Rating: NR
Run Time: 92 min.
In Jon Long’s visually stunning new documentary The Search for Freedom, we explore the lives and philosophies of some of the world’s most successful action sports athletes. Rather than presenting a film just about skating or surfing, Long attempts to cover a wide array of sports, including mountain biking and climbing, snowboarding, motocross, base jumping and more.
This is the perfect type of film to see at the largest screen possible (the list of theaters playing it is here), as its strongest component is its breathtaking visuals. Long has extensive experience in shooting action sports films, previously directing Carving the White and Extreme, and it shows in The Search for Freedom.
Accompanying this great collection of footage are interviews with many of the pioneers and visionaries of action sports, including Tony Hawk, Kelly Slater, Danny Way and many more. The athletes talk about their early experiences with their respective sports and the invisible force that drives them to constantly challenge themselves and overcome their fears.
While these interviews are entertaining, it never feels like there’s anything really being said in The Search for Freedom, and it all seems like it’s just an excuse to show us some crazy footage. What it does show is indeed crazy, so it’s still easy to recommend checking the documentary out, especially if you’re into any one of these sports. Just don’t expect any revelatory content.
In the end, it hardly even feels like an actual documentary but more like a showcase for TVs on sale in big-box stores or the latest IMAX experience, which isn’t inherently a negative; there’s just not a lot more here than some great “holy-shit” moments.
Being such a broad film, showcasing ten or more sports, it’s difficult to drill down and explore specific elements in detail. This is unfortunate, as it touches on the early days of a lot of these sports, which is fascinating. One of the interviewees is the creator of the mountain bike, someone who revolutionized the entire industry…something I wanted to learn more about.
The Search for Freedom works well as a high-quality action sports compilation – it just doesn’t elevate itself above any other well produced skate video, which is fine; I love skate videos. Just don’t go into this film expecting to walk away with anything more than a compellation of amazing visuals from some of the most talented daredevils on the planet.
THE SEARCH FOR FREEDOM INTERNATIONAL TRAILER from The Search for Freedom on Vimeo.
