Here at Short of the Week, quite often our ‘to watch’ lists can get a little swamped with what you’d probably describe as “heavy” narratives. Pieces of fiction that focus on death, illness or broken hearts seem very popular in the short film arena, but what can sometimes be lacking are those real life-affirming stories of individuals reminding us all of what is truly great about humanity. Following in the footsteps of fellow heart-warming doc Above All Else, Brendan Hearne’s 17-minute doc is the charming tale of 50-year-old competitive surfer Curt Harper and how his love for the sport helped him overcome all the challenges growing up with autism presents.

The portrait documentary has become a popular format in short film over recent years. Most focus on a talented individual and their love/passion for a hobby/sport/craft but what a lot of these films lack is heart. They lack that human element that makes a film relatable and makes a story special and memorable. Curt (both the film and the person) however has this spirit in abundance. Avoiding the over-stylised aesthetic often seen in the sub-genre, Hearne’s film feels like a down-to-earth document of a man who enjoys his life and uses his time on Earth making sure everyone else enjoys theirs just as much. Even spending such a short time experiencing the life of the titular Curt through the camera’s lens it feels as if his positive outlook rubs on you and when his father reveals his response to the doctor who suggested they institutionalise his son, whatever shit is going on in your life, it’s hard not to feel your faith in humanity restored.

Hearne’s first venture into the documentary field, after he earned his filmmaking spurs directing commercials and working as an editor on skate, surf and music videos, Curt isn’t going to win any awards for innovation, but its simple approach and enthusiastic storytelling means it’s a rewarding and refreshing watch. At times it seems filmmakers can get bogged down with searching for new techniques and unusual angles to tell a story when this direction isn’t the one best-suited to their narrative and Hearne proves that often the most direct and obvious route can prove to be the most powerful and effective.