BIG VS SMALL REVIEWS
THE GUARDIAN
"Dufton’s film sticks largely to the self-empowerment template and dutifully buffs Andrade’s accolades, as the first Portuguese woman to surf Nazaré. But her real achievements are the invisible ones under the surface." Read the full review here.
WAVELENGTH MAGAZINE
"Big VS Small, now a multi-award winning film, is an independent documentary chronicling the powerful journey of Joana overcoming her fear of drowning by facing her anxieties head-on. Highlighting that Joana’s relatively diminutive stature of 156cm tall is no hindrance to surfing Praia do Norte’s often 50ft waves." Read the full review here.
PBS NEWSHOUR
Report by Stephanie Sy and Lorna Baldwin
"The story is as much about surfing as it is about the mental strength and mind-set it takes to conquer these waves, particularly when you have a profound fear of drowning, as Andrade does."
Read the full transcript of the PBS Newshour report here.
GLORIOUS SPORT
Feature by Sam Haddad
"They descend under the ice of a frozen lake in the dark and it looks terrifying. Joana agrees it was, but it also helped her a lot. “It was a scary but beautiful experience,” she says." Read the full article here.
DOCUMENTARY BUSINESS
Case study by Peter Hamilton
"I wanted to capture in a case study the journey of the indie, small-market filmmaker who is determined to risk much to develop a story, travel to a pitch session, finance, deliver, and then inspire COVID-restricted audiences with a unique creative vision." Read the full case study here.
RKS FILM
EarthX Film Festival Review by Robert K. Stephen
"If you watch this and not be awed I'll eat my shirt." Read the full review here.
CBS NEWS
DOC NYC Highlights by David Morgan
"The cinematography is sumptuous in this portrait of big wave surfer Joana Andrade, a petite Portuguese woman who takes on the massive, skyscraper-size waves at Nazaré." Read the full article here.
HELSINGIN SANOMAT
Review by Hanne-Mari Tarvonen
”Tämä on iso juttu dokumenttielokuvan ekosysteemille, koska se osoittaa, että halutaan tukea ja ymmärtää sitä, mitä me teemme”, Dufton sanoo. Hän haluaa toimia esimerkkinä siitä, että ensimmäisellä kerrallakin voi onnistua.
Read the full review here.
UBIQUARIAN
Review by Marko Stojiljkovic
"Big vs. Small serves its purpose perfectly. As a documentary about sports, it is breathtaking to look at, while its humane side is inspiring in a completely different way.” Read the full review here.
THE SWELL SEASON SURF PODCAST
Hosted by Tyler Breuer
A two-part series of interviews with BIG vs SMALL's director Minna Dufton and big wave surfer Joana Andrade.
WOMEN-DIRECTED FILMS TO SEE THIS YEAR
"Joana Andrade is a Portuguese athlete and extreme competitor, one of the greatest in a sport traditionally dominated by men, big-wave surf. In the documentary she goes to train under revered free diver Johanna Nordblad as both women seek to empower themselves and be the greatest they can be." Read the full article here.
FILMS GONE WILD
Review by Daniel Pappas
"Andrade’s journey excites, unnerves, and terrifies in equal measures but witnessing every second of it convinces me that if she can overcome her greatest fears then perhaps I can too." Read the full review here.
LA ESTATUILLA
Review by Ricardo Gallegos
"BIG vs SMALL... is a powerful dissection of the sports mindset, as well as an inspiring tale of self-improvement."
Read the full review here.
MAP MAGAZINE
Review by Rhian Williams
"From its opening scenes, fear takes centre stage: trembling, apprehension, terror. Careering into the unconscionable speed of monster waves, the roaring sound, the sheer frenetic force, is both stomach-lurching and exhilarating."
Read the full review here.
EYE FOR FILM
Review by Amber Wilkinson
"In a world where many women still find themselves having to "buck the trend" in order to follow their dreams, watching Andrade and Nordblad, you're likely to be tempted to dive into something new yourself." Read the full review here.
THE HOLLYWOOD NEWS
Review by Kat Hughes
"BIG vs SMALL casts the incredibly interesting Andrade into the spotlight, a name that won’t be familiar to most, and yet her story will strike a chord with many. Dufton clearly respects her subject and has painted a brilliant profile of the commanding woman." Read the full review here.
IN THEIR OWN LEAGUE
Review by Caz Armstrong
"Dufton treats this very personal account with a sensitivity and skill that makes it very identifiable. She emphasises the feelings that come with reclaiming control, and what it’s like to work incredibly hard and finally achieve a goal."
Read the full review here.
BACKSEAT MAFIA
Review by Rob Aldam
"BIG vs SMALL gains its power from this unflinching concentration on an extraordinary resolute warrior."
Read the full review here.
MINNIS2SOCIETY
Review by Alex and Claire Minnis
"The documentary was honest, raw, uplifting and inspiring, and we were left with the greatest of respect for both Joana herself and nature’s force in the form of the big waves." Read the full review here.
THE SURF CHANNEL
Report by The Surf Channel
BIG vs SMALL was featured on The Surf Channel in August 2021.