Written by Emma Roberts, Image courtesy of Savannah Film Fest
Grief is a tricky thing to navigate. Where that be in literature, where it is a thing with feathers, in song, where it is as intense as fire and rain, or unfortunately, in real life, where it is unavoidable. Grief is difficult to depict, let alone make enjoyable.
“Waves” is the latest film to tackle the subject head-on and shows that there are different types of grief, with a myriad of emotions going into it.
The film follows a typical suburban family for the first portion, going through their day-to-day lives. When a horrific event happens, the family is left to pick up the pieces in the aftermath. Throughout the film, so many emotions are depicted with such intensity, from love to pain, to despair. Yet, all of them orbit around one central emotion, grief, and its aftermath.
The film’s soundscape serves its purpose incredibly effectively. The sounds of the outside world slowly fades away, replaced by trance-like audio and tracks. Oftentimes, these strike during particularly intense scenes, leaving only the visuals and raw emotion of the moment on display. The film sometimes relies too heavily on its sound design, masking the mood set by the actors and instead being told how to feel through the music.
“Waves” also tackles the subject of grief through the excellent performances given by the entire cast. Sterling K. Brown gives a stellar performance, navigating the difficult position a father goes through when encountering loss and emotional distance from family. Oftentimes, he is restricted from showing emotions such as vulnerability or sadness, which makes Brown’s performance all the more realistic and powerful. His performance, along with the rest of the family, help portray a believable, everyday family experiencing something tragic together, while also experiencing it in their own individual ways.
“Waves,” at times, can be difficult to sit through. This may be from the shocking imagery on display or the raw, almost palpable emotions of the scenes. It may be too much for some. But “Waves” offers an experience that many can relate to, for better or for worse.
For many, grief is something that would rather be avoided, not talked about. “Waves” offers a look into how grieving does not always have to be doom and gloom. Sometimes moving on can be heartwarming and beautiful.
