Waves tackles some hugely important themes – love, parenting, abortion, domestic violence and forgiveness – in the form of a visually beautiful cinematic experience. But it almost feels as if there are two films happening simultaneously.
The new film, written and directed by Trey Edward Shults, is a difficult watch at times. The primary character, Tyler, is an eighteen year old high school wrestling star and is incessantly pushed by his father; a father who wants the best for his child but doesn’t always go about it in the right way. He is struck by an untimely shoulder injury which he struggles to admit as it could prove to be detrimental for the sporting career that his father invests all of his time and energy into.
He and his girlfriend are deeply in love, however their relationship turns rocky when they receive some unexpected news. In order to deal with everything that is happening around him, Tyler relies on the hazy effects of prescription pills, but he quickly becomes a little too reliant on this coping mechanism and it becomes somewhat out of control.
Kelvin Harrison Jr. brings incredible emotion and realness to Tyler’s character. In the first half of the film we watch him spiral tremendously down from a great height and it’s incredibly taxing to watch. My eyes latched to the screen, both in anticipation and dread of what was to come. Schults delivered on every single misfortune that could have played out for Tyler, and Harrison Jr. matched it with beautifully raw emotion. Even when Tyler’s actions grew less and less acceptable and the unthinkable happens, I was still deeply invested in his character and I felt everything with him.
The latter half of the film focuses on Tyler’s quiet and reserved sister, Emily, played by Taylor Russel. She is a captivating actress and created a wonderful performance of this timid character. In the midst of her grief she falls in love with another socially awkward student and they embark on a difficult journey together that surrounds his family issues. The love between them is palpable and their story is sweet, but I was just too busy thinking about the ultra-dynamic and intense former half of the film. I had too many unanswered questions to concentrate on this new rather uneventful storyline, which felt as if it let the film down slightly. It did not do much justice to the build-up.
For me, the most engaging thing about the film was the flawless soundtrack. It carried the emotion in the film perfectly and represented excellence in hip hop and contemporary R&B. The candid and heart wrenching lyrics of Frank Ocean gripped me to the most emotional scenes, whilst the intensity of the bass on Kanye’s I Am A God and Kendrick Lamar’s Backstreet Freestyle were the backdrop to the most intense scenes. It is one of the best soundtracks I have ever heard on a film.
In addition to this, the visuals of the film were startlingly beautiful. Set in South Florida, the stunning backdrop of suburban America was dreamlike. Every single shot was creatively considered and proved Shults to be an incredible visual artist. I just wish there had been a little more substance toward the end.
By Neave Meikle
Feature image credit: A24