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FIGHTING FEAR QUOTE BANK

★★★★★
ZOO MAGAZINE (five stars)



★★★★1/2
“Bra bromance shines through … There’s warmth and humour among the hardship… a compelling story of contemporary Sydney culture”
– George Palathingal SMH, The Age, Bris Times, WA Today online

★★★★
“Quietly inspirational… well worth a watch, especially on the big screen”
– Kate Rodger, 3NEWS (NZ)

★★★★
“Fighting Fear is an interesting doco that certainly won’t disappoint… a must see on the big screen.
- Dave Griffiths, subcultureentertainment.com

8/10
"This film documents real life changing events with clarity and emotionalzing ... they really are FIGHTING FEAR and for once you can believe the PR
of it being surprisingly emotional, powerfully uplifting and an utterly
compelling film. Extraordinary images of big wave surfing, Edgerton's restrained narration, fresh interviews, archival footage and re-enactments… a satisfying and exciting mix"
- Andrew L. Urban The Sun Herald

"This is a very well made film which lifts the lid on a microcosm of society... it's as scary as it is fascinating...full on!"
- Richard Wilkins, Today Show

"Bra Boys documaker Macario De Souza delivers . honest and polished resultsin "Fighting Fear"
- Richard Kuipers, Variety

"Mates' tale makes a double-edged drama… quite an achievement for the 28-year-old co-director of Bra Boys… the tale of two best mates, Mark Mathews and Richie Vaculik, who overcome previous misdeeds to become international stars, as a big wave surfer and mixed martial arts cagefighter respectively. "
- Michael Bodey, THE AUSTRALIAN
$16.00 out of $20.00

“Fighting Fear’s energy and positivity is infectious… Mark Matthews and Richie Vaculik are hugely likeable and compelling documentary subjects, and their respective stories are at turns funny, thrilling and touching… a film with a message and a purpose, and while some might see that as didactic, it's part of what gives this engagingly honest and cynicism-free documentary so much of its undeniable kick… with two compelling figures at its core, this engagingly honest and unapologetically positive doco makes for exciting and ultimately moving viewing”
- Erin Free, FilmInk

★★★1/2
“Fighting Fear got me in from the word go, on every level...I came away uplifted and cheered to see such a brilliant role model of male friendship on the screen”
- Sharon Hurst, cinephilia

★★★
”Director Macario De Souza comes out swinging with another maverick story from Sydney’s Maroubra beach featuring best friends and fellow daredevils Mark Mathews and Richie “Vas” Vaculik… Mark and Richie are easy to like and their nuggety, never-say-die chops are the stuff that stayers and winners are made of”
- Andiee Paviour, WHO Magazine

 

TRAILER

SYNOPSIS

Mark is a Big Wave Surfer. He dreams of being the best. Richie, Mark's best mate shares his love of Big Wave Surfing but has his own ambitions. A carpet layer by day, Richie dreams of becoming a MMA Cage-Fighting Champion. Both are fearless, living life on the edge, daring each other to surf bigger waves, party harder, take greater risks. But when their adrenalin-seeking antics & hardened partying turns sour, it sets in motion a dramatic and life-changing series of events that threatens to derail everything they have worked so hard for.

In an instant, Mark's Big Wave surfing career is in tatters & Richie is facing a jail term. But for these two friends, giving up is not an option. It's not the mistakes you make but how you overcome them. Their unwavering friendship gives them the courage to battle their demons, rise up from their troubled past & conquer their fears.

One good friend can Change your life.

This feature-length docu-drama, told through the eyes of the two friends, Pro-surfer Mark Mathews and MMA fighter Richie Vaculik & filmed over three years, provides a unique & candid insight into the tumultuous life of two world-class athletes facing against-all-odds personal challenges. This is the second feature film by exciting new Australian talent, Macario De Souza, co-director of BRA BOYS, the highest grossing Australian documentary (non-imax) of all time. Aged just 27, Macario not only wrote, directed, edited, shot & produced FIGHTING FEAR but as Kid Mac wrote & performed 5 songs on the soundtrack.

With a rip-roaring soundtrack and featuring entertaining & insightful interviews from some of the world's most influential action sports athletes, including ten-time World Surfing Champion Kelly Slater, two- time World Surfing Champion Mick Fanning, Big Wave Surfer Bruce Irons, three-time Women's World Surfing Champion Steph Gilmore & two-time UFC World Champion BJ Penn, FIGHTING FEAR is a jaw-dropping action-packed documentary that is surprisingly emotional, powerfully uplifting & utterly compelling.

FIGHTING FEAR is inspirational, heart-stopping entertainment.