Hot Docs - Highway Gospel

Rating: ***

Skateboarders are well represented at this year’s Hot Docs between the acclaimed Dragonslayer and this effort by co-directors Jaret Belliveau and Craig Jackson. But where as Dragonslayer focuses on a singular subject in a disjointed manner, Highway Gospel focuses on many subjects and the whole thing just seems disjointed. The long board racing scene in B.C. is the stage in this doc, and a colourful cast of characters populate that stage as they race for various levels of legitimacy for their sport.

A lot of the story action is around two important races. Most long board competitions take place along mountain roads and down hill on highways, impromptu races in almost complete disregard for safety and the rules of the road, weaving in and around traffic. Some people like this “fast and furious” method racing, but there is a thirst too to legitimize the sport and get long boarding its proper recognition.

The film talks to a lot of the characters that are part of the scene. Some of them are extreme sports wannabes, some of them are D.I.Y. board creators looking to make faster and more manoeuvrable boards. If there is a star, it’s 52-year-old Claude Regnier, a championship skateboarder who’s still as good as any kid now on the circuit. He suffers from health issues related to his heart, and he’s suffering financial hardships related to an indoor skate park he’s trying to run. Between a rock and a hard place, Regnier works himself ragged for the sport that he loves, while his next race could literally kill him.

Regnier is a wonderful subject, and it’s enough to make you wish that the entire film was built around him. His is a deeply personal story, and one that is completely inspiring; he’s a true iron man because of his endurance and perseverance. It’s just too bad that it’s bogged down with a lot of skaters behaving badly scenes, and a bunch of guys talking about the rebellious, off the grid, be cool lifestyle of skating. The problem is that no one outside Regnier is particularly engaging, and many times the film feels as though it were editing together like someone making a promotional skate video.

Highway Gospel is interesting, but I’m not sure what it’s preaching. Some of the footage captured is amazing, and there’s clearly a passion and an interest translated through the material, but the focus is disorganized and the narrative seems almost non-existent. When the film does find focus, it really engages, but sadly these moments are as plentiful as they should be.