The European premiere of the documentary “The Scars of Ali Boulala” was held in a cinema room which has been sold out since the day before, this Saturday, during the Paris Surf & Skate Film Festival. On this occasion, the film crew, including Ali Boulala himself, made the trip to the capital. Composed mainly of archive footage and interviews, this touching documentary of almost two hours retraces its chaotic journey, from its beginnings in Sweden, its peak in the 2000s, to the tragic motorcycle accident in 2007 and costing life to skateboarder Shane Cross.
– –
A sulphurous life
Like some of his predecessors, Ali Boulala began his relationship with skateboarding at a very young age and was quickly noticed, although he never had ambitions ” to be a pro skateboarder ». « I knew I wasn’t doing too badly, but I wasn’t even 14, recalls the 42-year-old Swede. I just loved playing this sport. When some of his friends fly to the United States, Ali decides to follow them. From then on, aged only 16, the young skateboarder was sponsored by the famous brand Flip Skateboards and moved to the United States, a turning point in his career.
– –
“At the time, I didn’t give a damn about the image I was sending back”
– –
Years of celebration and excess will follow for the skater with a sulphurous temperament, who does not fail to be talked about around the world. When he thinks back to those moments, he confides with sincerity: “ At the time, I didn’t give a damn about the image I was sending back. We were filming each other, skating and having fun. But, in 2007, a serious motorcycle accident involving him and his skater friend Shane Cross definitely marked his life. Shane dies instantly and Ali, who was driving the motorcycle, plunges into a coma for several weeks. After serving a two-year prison sentence for manslaughter, Boulala then goes through a dark period marked by alcohol.
– –
“Ali has always been very open about the accident”
Max Eriksson, director of the documentary
— –
His meeting with Swedish director Max Eriksson in 2012 marked a turning point in his life, as well as the start of a tedious and long documentary project. ” I remembered him when I saw him at the skatepark when I was a kid, but also newspaper headlines when the accident took place, specifies the director. And instantly, I said to myself “I have to tell her story in a documentary!” “.
– –
“Some videos had been lying around in old apartments for more than 20 years”
– –
In order to bring together the various archive images of the film, Max had to reconnect with a large number of photographers and videographers who have worked with Ali Boulala. ” Some videos had been hanging out in old apartments for over 20 years. So I undertook a real detective work to collect them, digitize them and see what it was. It was long and tedious. The Swedish director finally finishes his film in 2021, after nine long years of work, punctuated by shooting complications related to the health of the skateboarder.
– –
Today, Boulala has a much more peaceful lifestyle. Every now and then he joins friends at the skatepark and even tries to get back on a board. As for the documentary, he does not particularly consider it as ” a way to turn the page “, Even if he confides” not sure you want to watch it right away. However, at the end of the screening, it is a full house that gives a standing ovation to this cinematographic masterpiece, under the emotion of Ali, who finally came to attend the premiere, accompanied by his long-time skater friends.
– – .
