The unusual life of Dr. Dorian Paskowitz and his family is chronicled in the documentary film “Surfwise.” He was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he learned to surf at a young age. Paskowitz and his parents moved to San Diego, where he spent most of his childhood. He then attended Stanford University Medical School, become an M. D., and moved to Hawaii, where he become the head of the American Medical Association in the Islands.
After two failed marriages, Doc moved back to San Diego, met his third wife Juliette, with the union producing eight boys and one girl. The family of eleven lived in a camper along the beaches of Southern California, surfing every day. To make ends meet, Doc Paskowitz founded a school of surfing, which also included teachings on his philosophy of holistic health and diet.
Documentary director Doug Pray did a fantastic job of weaving together numerous interviews with Paskowitz family members and friends, painting a fascinating portrait of a true counter-culture figure. Pray did not sugar-coat the subject matter, as disagreements and disenchantments among the nine adult Paskowitz children with their father is frankly discussed.
“Surfwise” ends with a happy ending of sorts as the nine fly to Honolulu, where Doc moved back to, for a big family reunion with their parents in 2006. Doc and Juliette Paskowitz later moved to Dana Point, in Orange County, California, where he lived out his remaining years. Dr. Dorian Paskowitz passed away in November, 2014.
Surfwise (2007)
cinema
My Review
The unusual life of Dr. Dorian Paskowitz and his family is chronicled in the documentary film “Surfwise.” He was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he learned to surf at a young age. Paskowitz and his parents moved to San Diego, where he spent most of his childhood. He then attended Stanford University Medical School, become an M. D., and moved to Hawaii, where he become the head of the American Medical Association in the Islands.
After two failed marriages, Doc moved back to San Diego, met his third wife Juliette, with the union producing eight boys and one girl. The family of eleven lived in a camper along the beaches of Southern California, surfing every day. To make ends meet, Doc Paskowitz founded a school of surfing, which also included teachings on his philosophy of holistic health and diet.
Documentary director Doug Pray did a fantastic job of weaving together numerous interviews with Paskowitz family members and friends, painting a fascinating portrait of a true counter-culture figure. Pray did not sugar-coat the subject matter, as disagreements and disenchantments among the nine adult Paskowitz children with their father is frankly discussed.
“Surfwise” ends with a happy ending of sorts as the nine fly to Honolulu, where Doc moved back to, for a big family reunion with their parents in 2006. Doc and Juliette Paskowitz later moved to Dana Point, in Orange County, California, where he lived out his remaining years. Dr. Dorian Paskowitz passed away in November, 2014.