THE CIGARETTE SURFBOARD
Review by Mia Humphreys
In Ben Judkins’ THE CIGARETTE SURFBOARD, designer and surfer Taylor Lane gives new life to an innocuous but pervasive piece of rubbish, proving that one man’s trash really is another’s treasure. The film documents the creation of the Ciggy Board – a functional surfboard made from beach-littered cigarette butts – and follows its journey across the globe to spread awareness of our deteriorating oceans.
In the words of Chris Hines, Co-Founder of Surfers Against Sewage, ‘surfing is media sexy’. The sport has never looked so appealing, with abundant montages of surfers cutting effortlessly across towering turquoise waves. THE CIGARETTE SURFBOARD is a feel-good watch, buoyed by a charming soft rock soundtrack featuring Jack Johnson.
The strength of THE CIGARETTE SURFBOARD lies in its affecting visuals, highlighting the natural beauty of stunning landscapes while underscoring the environmental devastation caused by humans. Judkins achieves this by interrupting scenes of natural beauty with homemade computer animations that resemble doodles straight out of Microsoft Paint. The effect is not too dissimilar to the DIY feel of the original Ciggy Board prototype, held together with Styrofoam and Elmer’s Glue.
The documentary features a diverse range of subjects, from the UK-based founders of a grassroots campaign to an Irish surfer who has combined his love for the ocean with his passion for farming. One standout is Cliff Kapono, who holds the very impressive title of PhD Chemist and Professional Surfer. His segment is particularly moving as he reflects on how his Hawaiian roots inform his connection to surfing – known as wave sliding in pre-contact Hawaii. Each of these stories simmer with a righteous and inspiring sense of anger towards environmental devastation.
THE CIGARETTE SURFBOARD inspires viewers to reflect on their connection to the beautiful world around them. It reminds us that individual action has the power to make a difference and stresses the importance of having a meaningful symbol with which to do so.