‘Maya and the Wave’ Review: Maya Gabeira’s Big-Wave Surfing Career Is Fervidly Captured In The Latest Documentary From Stephanie Johnes

Courtesy of TIFF.

Filmmaker Stephanie Johnes is no stranger to navigating the high-pressured lives of real-world athletes, having served as the cinematographer on the 2012 documentary Venus and Serena. For her latest directorial effort, Maya and the Wave, Johnes centers her focus on showcasing the incredible life and calling of Brazilian surfer Maya Gabeira. Best known for her Guinness World Record holding for the largest wave ever surfed by a woman, Gabeira's longstanding career has been impeded by injuries, personal struggles, and misogyny in a male-dominated sport. Maya and the Wave captivatingly and passionately platforms Gabeira's life through many formative years of her journey to the top of big wave surfing.

Gabeira's enchantment with surfing began during her teenage years in Brazil, where she dedicated herself to the sport despite lacking the natural talent expected of such an athlete. Gabeira’s hard work quickly transformed her into a prominent female figure in the industry, garnering awards and sponsorships from major brands across the globe. In the documentary, Gabeira's rebellious soul is uniquely likened to her father, Fernando Gabeira, a Brazilian activist and politician who fearlessly combatted corruption in his home country throughout his lifetime.

 In search of the world's largest waves, Gabeira journies to Nazaré, Portugal for the first time in 2013, a tiny coastal town infamous for its seventy-five-plus foot swells. Unfortunately, in her first attempt to conquer one of these formidable waves, Gabeira nearly drowns, all caught on camera and unflinchingly shown in Maya and the Wave. Luckily still in one piece after the accident, Gabeira is chastised by many men in big wave surfing, damaging her reputation in the sport. In the years following, Gabeira struggles to make a comeback and heal from severe physical suffering, resulting in her undergoing three major spine surgeries. Post-recovery, Gabeira faces pressure from sponsors to bounce back from her injury, leading her into a downward spiral that severely affects her mental headspace. 

Finally shaking off the tension of her financial backing, Gabeira finally returns to Nazaré in 2018, where she surfs a monster sixty-eight-foot wave, breaking the record for the largest wave ever surfed by a woman, landing her a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Courtesy of 30WEST.

Overall, Maya and the Wave is an encouraging journey revolving around Gabeira's immense dedication and passion for big wave surfing. The documentary does well in capturing her unrelenting spirit through her career highs and lows, a relatable account that will likely appeal to many moviegoers. Maya and the Wave possesses a substantial emotional narrative arc that aids it in standing out from other sports films or documentaries.

Using years of archival footage taken throughout Gabeira's surfing career and hypnotic drone footage of Gabeira tackling some of the world's largest waves, Maya and the Wave creates a visual landscape that successfully encapsulates the danger and thrills of big-wave surfing. In addition, the documentary's editing powerfully portrays the turbulence during those shaky years of Gabeira's career. One of the documentary's most distracting technical elements is its heavy reliance on a score made up of contemporary music. Maya and the Wave too often emphasizes overly-literal lyrics within the songs to reinforce powerful moments that are unnecessary and distracting from the real-life drama unfolding in Gabeira's career. 

Ultimately, Maya and the Wave is a wholehearted documentary that portrays the strains that many athletes can experience in the top tiers of their respective sports. Gabeira's moving journey as a woman in a male-dominated field can speak to many types of audiences, but can be specifically powerful for viewers who may find themselves on the marginalized fringes of their interests. Maya and the Wave is an inspirational documentary that should go on to appeal to many viewers from all around the globe.

3.5/5

Maya and the Wave made its World Premiere at Toronto International Film Festival on Friday, September 9.