This film evoked so many memories of my early teens. Countless days spent travelling by train, packed into the guard's van alongside our bikes, with dozens of like-minded riders to the hallowed ROM Skatepark. The anticipation building as you rode up the hill until you caught a glimpse of it and seeing the queue snaking for what seemed like miles as the worry that you weren't going to get in crept into your head.
Luckily I was never turned away and shuffling through to pay John Snr the entrance fee (always buying at least one rub-on sticker) felt like a ticket to nirvana.
Going through the door and out into the park felt like coming home to where I could be part of a very special sub culture that non riders could never understand.
ROM is unique.
This film captures those feelings through the interviews with so many diverse characters and individuals that are featured. Many of them my peers (Billy Stupple was a legend).
Most of them are in their fifties but still have that glint in their eyes that never leaves you. ROM shaped so many of us and played a big part in who we are today.
It is wonderfully shot and produced and actually pulled me in so deep that I almost felt compelled to shout "going in" from the comfort of my sofa!
Culturally significant but more importantly absolutely genuine.