Most of the time, we are susceptible to judge a movie by its poster. Take a glance at the ‘POL’ movie poster and it is easy to simply dismiss it as an insipid documentary film about a handful of uncouth youth raving about their undying passion on skating. However, peel away that veneer of jadedness and you’ll discover that ‘POL’ is an unassuming gem worthy of your time.

The 40-minute film follows three Indonesian skaters, Rino Herman, Mario Palandeng and Indra Kubon, from their discovery of skateboarding, setbacks to future aspirations. While the three skaters are the spotlights of the film, alternative point of views from their family and close friends regarding their profession as professional skateboarders makes it even more endearing. For Herman, Palandeng and Kubon, there is simply no other way than to dedicate themselves fully in the world of Skateboarding that they have built from sweat, tears and blood.

The strength of the film lies in the fact that it was presented in a straightforward and sincere way that provides a clear picture into the lives of the three skaters without any unnecessary dramatization. Thus, ‘POL’ is a breath of fresh air that demonstrates compelling and unpretentious subject is the only ingredient needed for a rousing film. It also proves that, as cliche as it sounds, passion is the ultimate fuel that matters when pursuing one’s dream.

This article was written by: Julius Kensan