The Perfect Wave: Big Wave Surfing in Portugal

The small Portuguese coastal town of Nazaré is unique in Europe. It became the Olympus of surfing in the 2010s. Monster waves roll ashore here between late autumn and spring. They are the largest in the world, so Nazaré is a hotspot for big wave surfers such as the German professional Sebastian Steudtner, the only German extreme athlete in this field who belongs to the world's elite. The giant waves are spectacular, but they are also extremely dangerous. They have given the former fishing port a new boom, because the activities of the surfers now attracts tourists in droves to the place even in winter. But accidents with serious injuries occur again and again. The documentary shows how the coastal town is handling the new attraction and how Sebastian Steudtner is preparing for a new record ride on the biggest wave on earth.

Directed by Frank Gensthaler, The Perfect Wave: Big Wave Surfing in Portugal leans on a strong ensemble — Sebastian Steudtner, Walter Chicharro, Joao Vitorino — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 2018.