and Renée Elise Goldsberry provide powerful, nuanced performances as the parents grappling with the breakdown of their family unit. 3. An Immersive Soundtrack
Common criticisms include:
The film opens wide, mimicking the boundless opportunity and energy of Tyler’s early life. waves 2019
The film is famously structured as a "dyptich," divided into two distinct but interconnected movements that mirror the ebb and flow of the ocean. The film is famously structured as a "dyptich,"
Waves operates on a distinct, formalist framework divided into , structurally mirroring the rising and falling actions of a literal wave crashing over a family. On the surface, Tyler has it all: a
The first half of Waves fastens its camera tightly onto Tyler Williams (played with ferocious intensity by Kelvin Harrison Jr.), a popular, competitive high school wrestler. On the surface, Tyler has it all: a wealthy suburban upbringing, a beautiful girlfriend named Alexis (Alexa Demie), and an affluent future. However, beneath the gloss is an suffocating amount of pressure applied by his well-meaning but domineering father, Ronald (Sterling K. Brown). Ronald constantly reminds Tyler that as a Black family in America, they "cannot afford to be average".