As the dad of three daughters, I'm always looking for ways to encourage my girls to be active and to enjoy the outdoors.
When the movie Soul Surfer came out a few years ago, I hoped the movie would be a positive experience and demonstrate great examples of women athletes that I could use as role models for my girls. I wasn't disappointed.
For those who might not know the story line, Bethany Hamilton is a pro surfer who lost her arm to a shark attack. The movie Soul Surfer tells her story and how she battled back from near-death to become a top surf pro.
The story is full of positive themes-- a strong, supportive family, an encouraging community, and a character who perseveres and moves forward despite tremendous setback.
These strong themes plus the beautiful scenery of Kauai make this film a pleasure.
About the only scene that I didn't like was the one where the shark that supposedly attacked Bethany is killed and brought to the family home. These sorts of culls don't work, and it's a shame that the movie decided to include a scene like this that will just further a misunderstanding of sharks and shark attacks.
I recommend Soul Surfer to families who are interested in promoting ocean activities to their youngsters. For those who are interested, the movie trailer is below and a link to the real Bethany Hamilton's website is here.
