Skatopia the movie, in review

August 15, 2:06 AMDenver Skateboarding ExaminerCara Kruse

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Fool's Pipe, all in text photos SkatopiaTheMovie.com

Skatopia, 88 Acres of Anarchy premiered this past weekend in Golden, CO and both the film and weekend are to be remembered.  It is a window into the skateboarding mecca in Ohio and filmmakers Laurie House and Colin Powers actually lived on an adjacent property for an entire year to capture the true essence of what can be described as a skateboarding sub-society.  For the most compelling view of this place, check out the film itself.  The images captured show much more than burning cars, raging parties and notorious reputation Skatopia has earned, but speaks to social dynamics of the sub-culture of the place, and a lot more.

Without visiting Skatopia, one can never truly know what to expect beyond the gates and separating fact from fiction is always a battle.  The documentary provides the experience from the comfort and safety of your screen of choice and its a good thing, because not everyone has what it takes to survive the reality.  Because Brewce Martin is the landowner and self proclaimed ring-leader, the story follows his life from Skatopia's and his own family's beginnings.  Though he clearly has had a less than easy journey, the complexities of his personality are characterized by amazing leadership and meticulous planning, thus the amazing results.  Powers and House did an excellent job capturing the personal elements to Brewce, and with power is strife, so there is an element of tragedy, and the end result, inspiration. 

One of the guys mentioned a non-skateboarder claimed the film to be depressing.  Herein lies a chasm between avid skateboarders and others who might think this way, and the mentality of community and devotion to our craft can override "common sense."  We saw it as an inspiring story of building an empire, with your own rules, despite what an monumental feat running a self-subsiding, free labor, skateboarding utopia.  The elements that are viewed by outsiders as depressing, failed relationships, the roller coaster of funds, random violence are all a part of society at large.  But the battles at Skatopia are fought with grinds and some other pretty creative means that simply result from human interactions, shared on the closest level; a sort of group survival to the fittest.  Like any great leader, Brewce has his faults, but worse are those who disrepect his empire, because its not just his, its theirs too, with a responsibility, or maybe a gift.

Skatopia was built by the hands of travelers, some skateboard, some come to party, some just have no where else to be and this year's Build-It Bowl Bash will be as important as ever in pouring concrete.  And the green plaid limo will be visiting cities across the Rockies wrapping up the summer and into the fall.