Bra Boys: Brilliant Documentary or Genius Self Promotion?

Movies about gang and mafia violence intrigue audiences.  The most recent production to come out of this world is a documentary called Bra Boys.  The film documents a surf tribe from Maraubra Beach in Australia called The Bra Boys.  Some people have said that it’s a gripping insight to surf gangs and a brilliant highlight of how disenfranchised youth can find their way and do something positive.  I  say that it’s a genius self promotion move for the Bra Boys, but for Sunny Abberton espcially.

The movie centers around the lives of the Abberton Brothers:  Sunny, Koby and Jai.  The film provides a back story on how the beaches, especially Maraubra Beach, provided a safe place for kids living in broken homes to channel their energy and frustrations.  After learning of channeling anger and aggression to art in Brazil while on the pro surfing tour, Sunny opted to modify that approach and apply it to surfing.  After all, he and his brothers were from some of the best surfing beaches in Australia.

Surf tribes, or gangs, as the media calls them are nothing new to Australia.  They have been there for generations, but it’s only recently that they’ve come into the spotlight.  We think the creation of this movie was a great, strategic move by the director, Sunny Abberton.  In one film he could put his Bra Boy culture on the international spotlight, tell an interesting story of triumph, set an example for other communities in the world to help youth from broken homes and show that just because one comes from a poor background doesn’t mean that a world-class piece of art (like this film) can’t be made.

Let’s take this and apply it to the popular gangs in the USA, especially California.  What do the gangs there do?  They sell drugs, fight each other and kill each other.  Can you imagine if the Crips, Bloods or MS actually added value to society?  What if these notorious gangs created art to sell, offered community services, helped younger kids read, created music and concerts?  That would provide a tremendous amount of value to the communities in which they live.  The sad truth is that gangs aren’t going anywhere.  They never will.  So, why not empower gang members to give back or to do something constructive?

Watch this movie, The Bra Boys.  It’s well done and full of surprises.