Soul Surfer

'Soul Surfer' director talks about surfing, movies and religion
By Lily Betjeman
April 6, 2011 - 10:59pm
As his movie opens nationally Friday, Sean McNamara shares the challenges of bringing Bethany Hamilton's story to the big screen.

Thirteen-year-old Bethany Hamilton was surfing with friends when a 1,500-pound tiger shark attacked her, biting off her arm.

In the years following Hamilton gained celebrity by adopting a positive attitude toward her personal tragedy and continuing to surf despite her handicap. In 2010 Hamilton ranked 20th on the Association of Surfing Professionals tour and won the National Scholastic Surfing Association competition just two years after losing a limb.