Waves

In select theaters
November 15^th 2019

135 minutes

English

U.S.A.

Set against the vibrant landscape of South Florida, and featuring an astonishing ensemble of award-winning actors and breakouts alike, WAVES traces the epic emotional journey of a suburban African-American family— led by a well-intentioned but domineering father—as they navigate love, forgiveness and coming together in the aftermath of a loss. From acclaimed director Trey Edward Shults, WAVES is a heartrending story about the universal capacity for compassion and growth even in the darkest of times.

84% on the CINEMETER

87% - Nov 3, 2019

Wow! I can't remember when a film took me on such an emotional ride. Excellent use of light, sound, music and images to convey the internal landscape of both Tyler and Emily. I was so on edge for the entire first half half and was grateful for the latter half to gently exhale and experience the unfolding aftermath. Powerful and brilliant filmmaking.
San Francisco Member

Visceral is the operative word for the first half. So glad I stuck it out. Amazing movie.
San Francisco Member

Extremely ambitious, tense, sometimes losing its way, but ultimately worthwhile. At times manipulative, not entirely successful, but always interesting.
San Francisco Member

A stunning descent into hell, followed by the story of how the soul repairs itself. The music was well chosen, as were the silences. Too long, however - 30 minutes of the first half could be be cut.
San Francisco Member

One of the most honest/direct depictions of human emotions and behavior that I have encountered. "Waves": we sink or swim, ride them or are swamped by them. Loved this film.
San Francisco Member

MIL

89% - Nov 3, 2019

Excellent -- emotional -- loved the effect of the ripple effect of the crime -- cinematography was so well done. I want my children who are parents of teenagers to see this!
Milwaukee Member

I enjoyed this very much but I didn't understand the ending.
Milwaukee Member

Superb. Sterling K. Brown is remarkable in any role he plays. Top notch here. Accomplished in all aspects. Visually reminiscent of "Moonlight," for sure. Virtuoso cinematic performance by the director that pulls out all the stops. Wow.
Milwaukee Member

One of the top 3 movies of the year!
Milwaukee Member

I liked and appreciated the creativity and out-of-the-box cinematography and music.
Milwaukee Member

Beautiful film; slow pace.
Milwaukee Member

Amazing -- cinematography was breath-taking.
Milwaukee Member

Loved it! Great acting/cinematography (and use of color and sound). Super character development. Will recommend!
Milwaukee Member

Wow. Very powerful.
Milwaukee Member

STL

100% - Nov 10, 2019

A thought-provoking movie about so many different subjects: The pressure we put on kids and the dangerous things they do partially because of that pressure. It's frightening to be a parent.
St. Louis Member

What a wonderful/horrible story of family. It shows the effects of bullying on children. It also shows the importance of grieving and how it can bring families together or drive them apart.
St. Louis Member

"Waves" was an incredibly powerful, layered film. I'll need to see it again, but I loved to much of this, particularly the experimental elements: use of score and color. Performances to see multiple times. Wow.
St. Louis Member

Amazing! Loved the cinematography and the music--perfect. Acting was superb. So moving!
St. Louis Member

Lighting was effectively used as a transition device. Father's statement, "We have to be 10 times better, just to be normal." Two different filming techniques and camera use was powerful. Powerful film. The son's downward spiral was a modern take on Dante's Inferno and revealed some of the states of hell.
St. Louis Member

Excellent film with great character development. It covered so many of today's issues: physical abuse in the name of sport, pain, drugs, underage drinking, overdosing, mixing drugs and alcohol, lack of human communication, social media, teenage pregnancy, even use of seatbelts . . . It opened one's eyes to the serious issues teens face today. It makes me grateful for the sheltered, innocent childhood I had even though it was during WWII.
St. Louis Member

ATL

93% - Nov 10, 2019

Emotional powerhouse of a film—I was totally engrossed by the way it was filmed as well as by the acting. One of the year’s best.
Atlanta Member

An extraordinary movie. Very timely!!! A movie of sadness, love, endurance, happiness, forgiveness, and ultimately acceptance and redemption!
Atlanta Member

Very exciting filmmaking. I loved the inventive use of camerawork and the music. It was visually engaging from beginning to end. Just beautiful to watch and experience. The story was touching but almost secondary to the feelings
Atlanta Member

Some of the most AMAZING cinematography I’ve ever seen!
Atlanta Member

It was long but the payoff was worth it. I spent the first hour of the movie anticipating that the filmmaker would lead us into some current “tropes” (Tyler being shot by police for a minor crime, etc.). But thankfully, he did not and instead focused on universal themes of love, loss, and redemption.
Atlanta Member

Altho long, it allowed you to be part of the journey of tragedy and how really hard and long the dealing with loss and family dynamics in the face of loss. I really thought this was a lovely and difficult film—I would highly recommend it.
Atlanta Member

Excellent film! The acting was superb—each character so well wrought. This is a story that touches all of us deeply. The musical score was fitting!
Atlanta Member

I loved how it showed that “tragedy” affects all—black, Lainto, white. No one escapes. And money does not insulate you. Life happens. Bravo.
Atlanta Member

Reminds us of the fragility of being a parent & being a child. Each decision creates a wave, with power to drown or elevate. Particularly when children face adult situations, or adult pressures, the risks magnify.
Atlanta Member

BOS

86% - Nov 3, 2019

Spectacular. Music and sound design were wonderful,
Boston Member

Direction amazing as well as acting and overall production.
Boston Member

WOW1 Powerful cinematography.
Boston Member

An important "family film."
Boston Member

Very well written. Every scene has meaning.
Boston Member

Unbelievably varied use of camera.
Boston Member

Beautifully done. Powerful
Boston Member

63% - Nov 3, 2019

Harrowing and powerful. This movie goes to the mat and we are the better for it. Necessary to understand our times. I am in admiration of the filmmakers and the guts it took to get this all on screen. This movie brought me waves of compassion, pain, tension and appreciation for the challenges of being human.
Greater New Haven Member

Raw emotions portrayed with love, compassion and strength through great acting and a masterful use of music and color.
Greater New Haven Member

Really solid filmmaking. Amazing cast, unflinching storytelling, dealt with tough elements without sensationalizing! I love that the family portrayed was middle-class and aspirational. I also loved the mid-film turn toward the sister’s story. The sound design is effective. My only issue is that the key to Emily’s insight seems to be a representation of white culture without the toxic masculinity. This felt like a too easy answer to the complex questions raised.
Greater New Haven Member

Everyone carries a hurt: to see the various connections was wonderful. Loved the use of focus/non-focus and psychedelic-life colors and shapes to mimic oxycodone addiction was poignant (also in other instances). Moved me greatly.
Greater New Haven Member

Spectacular. This movie transcends ethnicity: it’s about every family.
Greater New Haven Member

Amazing that the director is so young! Well done!
Greater New Haven Member

To have seen this movie on a home screen would have been to miss both the visual and the auditory intensity that masterfully carry his gripping and harrowing narrative. It needed to be big. And louder than is comfortable. Totally immersive.
Greater New Haven Member

Cinematography amazing and key to emotion of the story. Thankful for the redemptive second part to pull us out of the depths. Felt so true to life. Technical aspects did not distract me but stretched and deepened the experience.
Greater New Haven Member

Intense film. I think it’s an important portrait of America in its complexity and dislocation. Story was disjointed -- like life today.
Greater New Haven Member

This film’s story and content were overpowering. Its accuracy of different experiences throughout life in the lens of this family, and in particular the teen children, was beyond heart-wrenching. I would not watch this film again but will remember it, and will share it with my colleagues in the human service field.
Greater New Haven Member

Hugely ambitious film about big emotions, played out as as a human epic, the likes of which we rarely see on the contemporary screen.
Greater New Haven Member

Powerful - disturbing - powerful - redemptive - powerful. I almost walked out more than once but I am glad I did not!
Greater New Haven Member

Very powerful. Amazing acting. At times felt a bit tortuous. I felt a little like some effects were overplayed but I’m arguing with myself about that. Was the 360 degree camera overplayed? The use of water/submersion? Heavy storm clouds and lightning? I’m very glad I saw this film. Thank you Cinema Club/Madison Art Cinema and the team that gives us viewers such incredible experiences.
Greater New Haven Member

72% - Oct 27, 2019

I was struck by the visceral immediacy of the film. Enjoyment isn't the word, but I have a deep appreciation for the telling of this powerful storyline. Rarely is the collateral damage in a family exposed when people fail one another. Thank you for a fine film, Trey Edward Shults.
Washington, DC Member

Instead of 'Moonlight,' let's call the first part 'Red Light' and the second part 'Blue Light!' I love the pivot to Emily, and I wasn't entirely prepared for the shift in tone. The Tyler part was so raw and dangerous and fast, it felt almost lazy in shifting to her. A nasty change-up, as it were. Good risk taking.
Washington, DC Member

Wow - a remarkable movie - beautifully filmed. Deep and gorgeous and troubling and human.
Washington, DC Member

Mesmerizing, electrifying, heartbreaking. The music and lightscapes feel sent by the gods. The movie had the feel of an ancient epic set in the most modern of times. I expect this will play out in my dreams for a long time.
Washington, DC Member

Loved the soundtrack and its integration into the action. I didn't expect the Emily section to be more than a postscript, not a whole act, but it worked very well. And it related back to the rest of the film very effectively.
Washington, DC Member

A dizzying, challenging, mystifying melodrama with the emotional complexity of Cassavetes and the cinematic flow of Terrance Malick. The acting, camerawork, and soundtrack are all on-point. It gets bloated halfway through and begins to feel like 2 films at once, but something this ambitious and raw is refreshing to witness and easy to excuse its faults. Definitely the coming-of-age film this generation needs. (A24, if you're reading this, I will sacrifice my first born for you, please love me forever)
Washington, DC Member

Interesting study of common pressures on people that bring about a complete family collapse. Subject to so much communication technology, these people fail routinely to communicate. It's a very contemporary issue, dealt with effectively.
Washington, DC Member

A story for our time and all time, about the myriad of things that can and do go wrong even when everyone is trying their hardest. Once again makes me grateful for my children safely reaching adulthood. Quite moving.
Washington, DC Member

A bit slow in places but exceptional acting - I like the title - Waves; like in life they repeat - until or unless something breaks. A wake up call how a supportive, upper-middle class family can fall precipitously and the horrible consequences of teenage angst when they feel they can't honestly communicate for fear of disappointing parents - every teenager forces this dilemma.
Washington, DC Member

I too thought it was much like 'Moonlight' but enjoyed the increase in linear plot, which was a welcome tradeoff for the more stylized 'Moonlight.' And I like how it focuses on the family of the perpetrator, which is a rare tragic point of view.
Washington, DC Member

A24