Films about kids trying to escape the pitfalls of favela life aren’t new anymore but Rio Breaks is proof there are still plenty of stories left to tell. An understated and freefalling documentary, it aims its blissed out lens at Fabio, 13, and Naama, 12, two friends trying to break out of ‘The Hills’ (a far cry from the MTV reality-soap) and become surf legends. They’re members of the Favela Surf Club, a non-profit initiative staffed by inspiring mentors out to show local kids an alternative to the drug cartels. Observing from a distance, LA director Justin Mitchell and Brazilian writer/publisher Vince Madeiros barely make their presence known – a change from personality-led docus – and resist trying to shape the story. They’re just happy to follow Fabio and Naama around as they riff randomly on girls, kites or marbles. Avoiding all easy routes of enquiry and sensationalism, they show how external factors can so intrude so easily on childhood innocence and friendship, but equally they seem unwilling to really probe into the complicated, not always nice heart of Naama and Fabio’s lives, dropping the ball slightly when it comes to the difficult questions. But the disinterest in the usual themes of violence, gangs and drug cartels that take centre stage in so many post-City of God favela flicks is refreshing. Rio Breaks just wants to show surfer kids from The Hills are dreamy surfer kids the same as anywhere else.

Catch Rio Breaks at these cinemas:

3-17 June – Empire, Leicester Square, London
3-9 June Showcase, Leeds
3-9 June – Lighthouse Cinema, Newquay
3-9 June – Apollo Cinemas, Torbay
6-9 June – Cineworld, Isle Of Wight
6-9 June – Cineworld, Jersey
14 June – Lighthouse, Poole + Q&A
17 June – Reel Cinema, Kinsbridge
16 June – Picturehouse, Exeter + Q&A
24-25 June – Savoy Cinema, Penzance
26 June – Glastonbury Festival, UK
26-27 June – Phoenix Cinema, Falmouth
28 June – Regal Cinema, Redruth
28-29 June – Royal Cinema, St Ives
18 July – Duke Of Yorks, Brighton + Q&A