AllMovie

Two South African surfers from different walks of life serve as a metaphor for the nation as it deals with the legacy of apartheid in this documentary. Ian Armstrong and Cass Collier are two world-class surfers who are pals and friendly rivals on the big waves of Cape Town's spectacular beaches. But while Armstrong came from a wealthy white family, Collier is black and came of age at a time when segregation and minority rule prevented him from surfing most of South Africa's best waves. Collier's father, Ahmed Collier, learned about surfing in Hawaii and passed his enthusiasm for the sport on to his son, but while Armstrong had to learn how to navigate the waves on his board, Collier also had to fight for the right to ride the same surf. Taking Back the Waves looks at the history of surfing in South Africa, Collier's efforts to rise to the top of his game, and the slow, difficult efforts to come to terms with his country's ugly past.