Soul Surfer (2011)

Teenage surfer Bethany Hamilton overcomes the odds and her own fears of returning to the water after losing her left arm in a shark attack.

Director:

Sean McNamara

Writers:

Sean McNamara (screenplay), Deborah Schwartz (screenplay)

Stars:

AnnaSophia Robb, Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt

1 win & 12 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
AnnaSophia Robb	...	Bethany Hamilton
Helen Hunt	...	Cheri Hamilton
Dennis Quaid	...	Tom Hamilton
Carrie Underwood	...	Sarah Hill
Kevin Sorbo	...	Holt Blanchard
Ross Thomas	...	Noah Hamilton
Chris Brochu	...	Timmy Hamilton
Lorraine Nicholson	...	Alana Blanchard
Jeremy Sumpter	...	Byron Blanchard
Sonya Balmores	...	Malina Birch (as Sonya Balmores Chung)
Craig T. Nelson	...	Dr. Rovinsky
Cody Gomes	...	Keoki
Branscombe Richmond	...	Ben Aipa
Titus Kinimaka	...	Titus
John Philbin	...	Fuel TV Reporter #2

Storyline

13 year-old Bethany Hamilton is a champion surfer who was born to be in the water. But after a fun night out night surfing and what should be a fun day in the water, she is attacked by a shark and loses her arm. Rushed to the hospital, she remains calm, and maintains her faith in God. Now she has to re-learn how to do everything with only one arm - including how to surf. It will take her friends, family, and her Christian faith to get her back into the water, but if that is where she is meant to be, she will find a way to get there.

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Plot Keywords:

shark | surfer | christian | surfing | christian film | 

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Taglines:

When you come back from a loss, beat the odds, and never say never, you find a champion.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Family | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for an intense accident sequence and some thematic material

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 April 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

Duša surfera

Filming Locations:

USA

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,601,862, 10 April 2011, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$43,853,424

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$47,088,990

Company Credits

Production Co:

Enticing Entertainment, Island Film Group, Brookwell-McNamara Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Both Wesley Mann (6 episodes) and Patrick Richwood (1 episode) have appeared on the hit Disney Channel sitcom That's So Raven (2003). They were also regular cast members of Disney Channel's Adventures in Wonderland (1992).

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Goofs

After Night Surfing, Cheri Hamilton makes Bethany, Alana and Timmy a drink. She puts Timmy's green cup on the counter in one shot. Then she does it again in the next. In the next frame Timmy grabbed it and was drinking. The next shot shows the cup on the counter again. This continues for several shots.

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Quotes

[last lines, narrating]
Bethany Hamilton: I was born to surf. This is why I wake up at the crack of dawn everyday. This is why I endure belly rashes, reef cuts and muscles so tired they feel like needles. And I've learned life is a lot like surfing. When you get caught in the impact zone, you need to get right back up. Because you never know what's over the next wave. And if you have faith, anything is possible, anything at all.

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Crazy Credits

During the ending credits, videos of the real Bethany Hamilton are shown, many of similar (or possibly the inspiration for) moments in the film.

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Connections

Features 20/20 (1978)

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Soundtracks

It's Your Life
Written by Francesca Battistelli and Ian Ashley Eskelin
Performed by Francesca Battistelli
Courtesy of Fervent Records a Warner/Curb Company
By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

User Reviews

A triumph as a family movie

I went to support a family-valued film. But, I was touched and moved by the honesty and the reality of the events as they occurred.

Some of the special effects with the surf were awesome, wish there had been more.

Anna Sophia Robb stole every scene she was in. Her performance was understated and real.

Soul Surfer is a tear jerker, with an upbeat message, and ultimately makes you feel triumphant. For the Christians, there is a hymn in an outdoor church and a few references to scripture and God.

Some short documentary clips before the end credits were a highlight. Like Bethany surfing, appearances on Late Night talk, and reporters interviews. Makes me think that a biographical documentary about the real heroine, Bethany Hamilton, would be terrific.