73rd San Sebastian Festival - 19/27 September 2025
73SSIFF - 19/27 September 2025
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2016. 64th Edition
Home Festival Diary
THE WILD TRUE STORY OF A YOUNG AMERICAN REBEL
BUNKER 77
Thursday, September 22nd, 2016

Bunker 77 tracks the wild true story of Bunker Spreckels, a young American rebel seeking love, freedom, and authenticity in a slippery, chaotic world. Stepson to Clark Gable and heir to the Spreckels Sugar fortune, Bunker’s upbringing was skewed from the get-go. An incorrigible teenager, he found his calling in the sea, becoming a worldrenown surf star in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, famous for pushing performance and design boundaries.

But Bunker’s reputation really took off when he came into his multi-million dollar inheritance. At the time he was living modestly in rural Hawaii, drawing sustenance from the waves. Overnight, he went from feral surfer to full-blown rock star, showing up to the world’s best breaks with an entourage of photographers and beautiful women. His barefoot hedonism and charisma captured the attention of far more than just the surf world. The filmmaker Kenneth Anger wanted to make him the star of his next movie. Rolling Stone wanted to feature him in a profile. Bunker was bundled in contradictions. He courted celebrity; he also eschewed it. He was theatrical and hammy; he was also deeply introspective. He was one of the greatest surfers of the era, a black belt, a bon vivant—he was also a heavy drug user.
Directed, produced, and written by Takuji Masuda, Bunker 77 is a feature-length documentary. Masuda’s passion for the project is twofold: he feels a deep affinity for Bunker. He also possesses more just a fascination for surf culture—he is a former professional; he’s surfed many of the world’s finest surf spots.
“What I enjoyed the most while I was a traveling pro surfer was hearing the wild stories from the pioneers of the sport,” said Masuda. “I didn’t grow up in California, so I had a unique window into these surfers, which I documented in publishing and filmmaking. I feel that the story of Bunker Spreckels is one of the most important folklores of the 20th century from the beach culture.”
Narrated by Mike Judge, starring skateboard legend Tony Alva and surfing superstar Laird Hamilton, Bunker 77 is a gripping, thrilling, and cautionary tale of this surfing legend and international playboy.

JAMIE WRISICK
 
 
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