The death of the American dream spawned a new breed of skaters. With the promise of large backyards, carefree families and white-only fenced communities, people started transforming the Californian desert into a suburban jungle. Every family had a car the size of a small boat, enough room for their 2.3 kids and (of course) a swimming pool.

Cut to a few decades later; the families have moved out, the community has fallen apart without government support and the houses are abandoned and dilapidated. The swimming pools are filled with a thick layer of sludge and slime, until a bunch of skaters jump the fence, scoop it out, scrub it down, dry it out and transform a pool into a personal skate bowl.

Film-makers Coan ‘Buddy’ Nichols and Rick Charnoski document moments like this with a powerful, personal feeling that is rarely seen in 8mm documentary, let alone one about skateboarding. Whilst the material in their films is incredibly interesting, you could be made to watch a 20′minute flick about the life of an acacia tree and they could make it fascinating. The collection includes their earlier skateboard based work Fruits of the Vine, but also has some less-known gems that shine out. A 10-minute short composed entirely from shots taken out the window of aircraft is eerily beautiful in its simplicity.

You’re left feeling like you’ve been privy to personal secret memories and they’re truly amazing cinematic experiences.