Review: 'Sunshine Superman'

[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text disable_pattern="true" align="left" margin_bottom="0"]It never crossed my mind that someone invented BASE jumping. It seemed like something that always existed: "Since the dawn of time, man has yearned to leap from tall structures." That sort of thing. But in Sunshine Superman, a documentary from young Marah Strauch, we find out that BASE jumping was popularized, and in part created, by freefall cinematographer Carl Boenish. Boenish was a parachuting aficionado who leapt from tall cliffs with a camera strapped to his head, sort of the predecessor to a GoPro.

And in producing these death-defying videos, he shared the concept with others around the country, many of whom fell in love with the idea. He's described as not the organizer of every BASE jumping endeavor but someone who was plugged in to all the big events; one of the cool kids, for sure.

The first hour builds intimacy with Boenish, in almost excruciating detail. Strauch rounds up his ex-girlfriend, his family, some jumping buddies; anyone who can provide insight into what made Boenish tick. Gorgeous footage of his recordings offer a visual explanation as to why Boenish felt BASE jumping (it wasn't called that until the early 80s) was an act that should be exposed to the world.

[/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"]