Sombrio
60 minutes. Release date: January 2006
Produced and Directed By: Paul Manly
Click Here to see the Trailer:
Sombrio Trailer 3.9 mb
Sombrio Trailer 7.5 mb
Or you can send a cheque or money order for $28 (includes taxes and shipping) to Box 1093 Stn. A, Nanaimo B.C., V9R 2B2 with a return address and we’ll mail you a DVD.
SOMBRIO is a an hour long documentary about the eviction of a diverse community of surfers and squatters that existed on the West Coast of Vancouver Island for more than thirty years. It centers on a family with ten children who grew up surfing on the beach and captures them and other residents over a two-year period, revealing their personal stories and convictions as they come to terms with their impending eviction. Sombrio presents a portrait of a vital subculture in BC’s history and challenges our notions of what it means to be a self-determined citizen.
“If I have a right to life I have a right to living space… I wasn’t born with dollars in my pocket. I shouldn’t have to chase the big buck all my life just for a place to live.” Barbara Oke.
“Ghandi said ‘live simply so others may simply live’ that’s a good quote for me… I’m living simple” David
BACKGROUND
Since the 1960’s, Sombrio Beach, a picturesque paradise of rainforest and beach on the southwest coast of Vancouver Island, BC, has been home to a unique community of “squatters” living in a funky array of beach shacks. A magnet for surfers, social misfits, those who simply wanted off the modern grid, or to live a simpler life, the Sombrio community was an experiment in cooperation, anarchy and self-sufficiency. This ended in 1997 when the government evicted the squatters after the integration of Sombrio beach into the greater Juan de Fuca provincial park.
“Sombrio Beach” is about a sense of place and brings together the threads of sustainable lifestyle, history and ownership of land, and the stories of creative individuals who dared to live by their passion, skills and ingenuity away from the consumer world. The images of the ocean are stunning and the prowess of virtuoso surfers simply amazing. Carole Roy Ph.D Instructor Canadian Studies Trent University
Through rare and intimate interviews that were obtained through an established trust, combined with beautiful cinematography, Sombrio reveals a candid and poignant look at life, a contemplation and weighing of values, in the globalized postmodern world.
PRODUCER STATEMENT
Sombrio is a project that is very close to my heart. I started camping on the beach over twenty five years ago when it was an hour long hike from a gravel logging road which ran along an isolated stretch of coast. The summer of my first visit was the same year that the Johnson-Oke family was getting established there. As a regular visitor to the beach, I have seen the changes over the years from logging and a closer access road to the influx of visitors and residents. I first got to know Rivermouth Mike, Steve and Barb after spending an unplanned week on the beach in 1992 reflecting on life. Mike set me up with an abandoned cabin and some cooking utensils, he introduced me to many other members of the community. After that, every time I camped on the beach I would camp between Mike and Steve and Barbs places. My daughter would play with Steve and Barbs children the whole time we were there. I always joked that Sombrio was my back up plan if I couldn’t cope with life in the fast lane anymore.
Sombrio is an important story because it was an example of self-sufficient living in the modern age. Most of the people living there had ideological reasons for doing so. They wanted to create a smaller footprint and disengage from the world of excessive consumption. Although it looked like easy street in the summer, living at Sombrio was not always easy and required perseverance and a lot of daily work. I admired Steve and Barb for their convictions and strength, raising ten children on the beach. They lived in a condition of poverty by western standards but compared to living in poverty in a rental unit in the city, they lived very rich lives on the beach. The authorities were aware of the community at Sombrio for many years but ignored it because it was out of the public eye. There were never serious problems with the community but once the government became interested in creating a park, the community was re-branded by the media as a bunch of rowdies and freeloaders. I made ‘Sombrio’ not just because it is an interesting story but because I also wanted to give the people in the community the respect they deserved.
Click Here to see the Trailer:
Sombrio Trailer 3.9 mb
Sombrio Trailer 7.5 mb
19 Comments so far
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What can I do to See this film? The story weighs heavily upon my heart.
When is the DVD coming out? Looking forward to it :)
Sombrio never leaves my being.
I too have made my annual pilgrimages to this spiritual place for soul searching, reflection and contemplation.
Why must we be forced to conform when nature beckons us all in a very primal way?
Please inform us where this documentary is available.
Paul, this docu-film is fantastic! I am so greatful that you were successful in creating a spectacular and entertaining film that, from a technical viewpoint, did not once lag in pace, yet was very moving, with heartwarming, vivacious Folks sharing their Stories, as well as some extremely sad Truths of the important lifestyle and history of the people of Sombrio Beach. Thank you so much!
I.too, would like a dvd of Sombrio.
I used to go there in/89 to /93,till I moved up island, and have many photos. I recently met Mike at a sooke folk night and can he play a mean guitar! Their treatment was shameful.Plese post when the docu can be purchased and where.
I have copies of the festival version of Sombrio on DVD for sale. Send me an email at paul@manlymedia.com and I can arrange to send you one.
cheers
Paul
Dude! Well done.Let me Know How I can Purchase your Movies.I film Motion too.Need help Let me volenteer.Find me on myspace. D
I would like to get in contact.You did a great job and have a deep tallent.Find me at my e-mail or on myspace (LA DONNA PIETRA FILMS.)
i was one of the lucky ones that got to see sombrio…at the garage showroom and i can’t even gather my thoughts! mr. manly did such an incredible job! i would just like to say thank you!
peace and love
I worked on the Juan du Fuca trail when the homesites and campsites were ‘returned’ to nature. I had the good luck of volunteering to be the photographer on the Parks project which was the final push to the extinction of Sombrio as a community. I felt you may be interested in a number of the images showing the last days of an era.
There is supposed to be a show on Sombrio tonight on TV. I can’t find it in the schedule, perhaps on CBC or Outdoor or News. I wrote a note to myself re: July 13 @ 8:00 PM but can’t remember the channel. Can you help me I would really like to see this program Thanks
I just veiwed this program last night July,12,07 on the knowlage network and man it hit close to home. I live in Abbotsford B.C. and I heard about Sombrio and the surf so I had to go and check it out. This was on thanksgiving weekend 2003. I went to the Island solo just me and my board and after driving that far and walking down that path I never knew there ever was a community living down there, I thought this was so awsome I would love to live hear. Now that I seen this doc. I am really unhappey with the goverment thay should have just let them stay. Thay were there four so long rights act or not and thay were on private property . Why could’nt thay build the park around them thay were there first!!! I dont think the public would have cared. I would haved love to live at sombrio. Thanks Troy P.S I want to get a copy of the Sombrio doc.
I just watched the Documentary last week. Are there any updates on some of the people that lived there?
I just viewed your documentay on the Knowledge Network. Wow!!! As others have said, the pull to nature is so strong. I envy the residents of the community. They were able to experience a life on their own terms (albeit too short) The move away must have been heatbreaking. In your attempt to leave less of a foot print on the earth, you have have left one on my life. Thank you.
being a child of parents that lived on beaches up & down the island in the 60’s & 70’s I found this film very close to home. I lived at wreck bay as a baby, & used to visit sombrio. rivermouth is a great guy, & I wish I saw more of him. the government has done this too many times to people that want to live their own way. I think it must have to do with jealousy, why should people live free when I hate my job & have a $500,000 mortgage. people always mess with others when they percieve that those others are getting something that they are not.
Hey i would love to see this video,I lived on sombrio for a few years before me and my boyfriend doug moved off the beach.We lived beside Barb and steve but on the other side of them not in bewteen Mike and Steves.
you lived in Lindas old Cabin i guess.
it was very peaceful there and i surely miss it.
but i have to ask you if you have seen any spirits there ,I did and quite a few.
indians use to go there to heal way back when.
Mike is very cool we use to hang out but then again we knew every one on the beach.
well i hope you had a good time and expierience the peace and solitude and good people.
Steves goats use to break in to my cabin and eat and sleep on my bed once too many times, it cost steve thats for sure.we ended up eating their billy goat.
i now it sounds mean but their billy was mean..
anyways sombrio was one of the most beautiful beaches i have ever lived on.
Then i ened up moving to Bear Beach which i lived there all by my self until my friends invaded my space.
well thats another story.
anyways i left sombrio in 1989
Deneze
What a wonderful piece of work, Paul Manly! Powerful and (naturally) disturbing, but also inspiring to a huge degree. Thank you so much for telling the story of Sombrio!
I had the honer of spending 4 summers down there, and parts of winters. Just the trailer alone brings tears to my eyes… Thank you for covering such an important story. I’ll order your film as soon as I can.
I had the pleasure of spending one of those summers on the Bearch with Mister Ruhr and would also like information on purchasing the film.