In the early 1960s the broke and fatherless Fisher family drift across the southern coast of Australia looking for a place they can call home. Jimmy nearly drowns in an accident and becomes withdrawn from the traumatic experience. Elder brother Andy fights to protect Jimmy from tough local kids while their mother, Anna, fights to put food on the table. Andy and Jimmy are inspired by a local surf photographer, JB to create their own surf gear. After struggling to gain acceptance by the local surf community, the two brothers then struggle to realize their dream: building a lifestyle and business out of the sport they love.
Directed by Ben Nott and Morgan O'Neill, the 2013 Australian film Drift captures the spirit of the 1970s surf culture through the story of two brothers, Andy and Jimmy Kelly, who turn their lifelong obsession with big-wave surfing into a burgeoning business. Settling along the rugged Margaret River coast, the brothers begin crafting custom surfboards and wetsuits out of their home garage. However, their ambition quickly collides with conservative local attitudes, financial hardship, and dangerous encounters with a local drug syndicate.
The standout highlight of the film is its breathtaking practical cinematography. Shot by cinematographer Geoffrey Hall without relying on digital visual effects, the aquatic sequences feature real 30-to-40-foot waves that deliver visceral excitement and genuine adrenaline. The lead performances by Myles Pollard, Xavier Samuel, and Sam Worthington lend a natural groundedness to the brotherly bond and the surrounding surf community.
Where Drift stumbles is in its dry-land narrative, which frequently leans on formulaic tropes and predictable drama. When the focus shifts from the ocean to crime subplots and debt pressures, the pacing slows down noticeably. Nevertheless, the film remains a visually compelling celebration of freedom, ocean power, and vintage Australian surf heritage.
