Tyler

In this life, you've got to find your rhythm, otherwise you'll get lost in the chaos.

Tyler

Waves, Reelive
Catherine

Sometimes love is the thing that can tear you apart.

Catherine

Waves, Reelive
Ronald

You have to forgive yourself to move forward.

Ronald

Waves, Reelive
Tyler

Everything we do matters, even the little things.

Tyler

Waves, Reelive
David

Life is about carrying the weight and finding beauty in the pain.

David

Waves, Reelive
Catherine

You can't control everything, but you can control how you feel.

Catherine

Waves, Reelive
Tyler

Sometimes you need to let go of who you were to become who you can be.

Tyler

Waves, Reelive
Ronald

We’re all just trying to find a way to survive in this world.

Ronald

Waves, Reelive
Catherine

The most powerful thing we can do is to love each other fiercely.

Catherine

Waves, Reelive
David

You can't change the past, but you can create a future.

David

Waves, Reelive
Tyler

What defines us is how we respond to what happens to us.

Tyler

Waves, Reelive
Ronald

Sometimes the only way out is through.

Ronald

Waves, Reelive
Catherine

You are not your mistakes; you are your potential.

Catherine

Waves, Reelive
David

It’s okay to not be okay.

David

Waves, Reelive
Tyler

We are shaped by our experiences, but we are not defined by them.

Tyler

Waves, Reelive
Catherine

Family is the anchor that keeps us grounded.

Catherine

Waves, Reelive
Ronald

The beauty of life is found in its unpredictability.

Ronald

Waves, Reelive
David

You’ve got to put one foot in front of the other; that’s how you get through.

David

Waves, Reelive
Catherine

Love can heal the deepest wounds.

Catherine

Waves, Reelive
Tyler

Every moment is a chance to start again.

Tyler

Waves, Reelive
Ronald

You are stronger than you realize; just believe in yourself.

Ronald

Waves, Reelive
Catherine

The love we show today shapes who we are tomorrow.

Catherine

Waves, Reelive
David

Healing takes time, but it’s a path worth walking.

David

Waves, Reelive
Tyler

When the waves crash, you have to stand your ground.

Tyler

Waves, Reelive

Sofia

Sofia by Kali Uchis, Played during a key romantic moment

Big Fish

Big Fish by Brockhampton, Used in a pivotal emotional scene

All of Me

All of Me by John Legend, During final emotional scenes

The Way You Make Me Feel

The Way You Make Me Feel by Michael Jackson, Scene depicting celebration and joy


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Tyler's Breakdown

In this emotionally intense moment, Tyler, a high school wrestler, faces overwhelming pressure from his father and personal struggles. The build-up unfolds as he deals with his father's expectations and his evolving relationship with his girlfriend. Tyler's breakdown occurs when he lashes out in frustration, resulting in a fight with his father. The scene is filled with raw, emotional dialogue, showcasing Tyler's pain and vulnerability. The aftermath sees him isolated and questioning his path, which changes the relationships around him.

Context: Tyler is a key character in 'Waves', struggling under the weight of expectations and a chaotic home life, which sets the stage for this powerful breakdown.

Emma's Confession

Emma, Tyler’s girlfriend, finds herself at a crossroads and confesses her feelings about their relationship to her best friend. In a quiet room, she reveals her fears and uncertainties, which peel back layers of their connection. This pivotal moment comes when she admits she feels overshadowed by Tyler's struggles. The emotional weight of her words hangs in the air as she fights back tears. The aftermath leads to a deeper understanding of familial pressures and personal sacrifices, changing how Emma sees herself in the relationship.

Context: This scene highlights the tension in Tyler and Emma's relationship as both are grappling with personal demons, setting a foundation for Emma’s character development.

The Party Scene

Tyler attends a party, trying to mask his feelings of dread with superficial fun. Amid laughter and music, he interacts with friends, but the façade crumbles when he sees Emma with another guy. This moment of panic hits hardest when he punches the wall in frustration. The visuals capture the contrasting vibrancy of the party with his internal turmoil. Following the anger, Tyler spirals into a wave of regret and sadness that shapes his decisions moving forward.

Context: The party serves as a backdrop for Tyler’s internal conflict, showing how external appearances can hide deep emotional struggles and foreshadow darker days ahead.

The Car Crash

The tension culminates in a shocking car crash that alters lives forever. As Tyler drives away intoxicated, dread fills the air, and soon the impact is felt. The moment of collision is jarring, marked by slow-motion graphics that amplify despair. Following the crash, the aftermath reveals chaos and heartbreak—Tyler is left grappling with guilt while his family faces devastating loss, setting the stage for a transformative journey.

Context: This pivotal event sets the main conflict for the remainder of the film and introduces the theme of consequence, shaping all following interactions.

Family Dinner After the Crash

In an emotionally charged family dinner, the tension is palpable. Tyler's family is fractured yet trying to hold it together. The pivotal moment comes when silence hangs heavy until an argument erupts. The visuals of their divided table portray their struggles. After this encounter, the family dynamics shift significantly, as each member reacts differently to the tragedy—showing love, blame, and despair, deepening their character developments.

Context: This scene illustrates the strain on family relationships after trauma, highlighting how they begin to either come together or pull apart.

Tyler's Decision

Tyler grapples with his choices, leading to a pivotal moment where he decides to confront his issues rather than run from them. Introspection takes center stage as he writes in his journal, revealing his inner turmoil. The visuals soften as the scene unfolds, focusing closely on his contemplative expressions. After this moment, Tyler takes steps toward healing, signifying his growth and commitment to change.

Context: This decision is a critical turning point that reflects Tyler’s journey towards self-acceptance and resilience in the face of adversity.

Kate's First Day at School

Tyler’s younger sister Kate faces her first day back at school after everything has transpired. The build-up shows her anxiety and fear of judgment. The pivotal moment is when she stands up to her bully, asserting her strength. This empowering moment is heartwarming, and the aftermath sees her starting to reclaim her confidence, a critical moment of growth.

Context: Kate’s story arc symbolizes resilience, showing how the younger generation can derive strength from adversity.

Reflecting in the Pool

After losing her brother, Kate finds solace in the swimming pool, where she recalls cherished memories. The scene is visually stunning, with clear water reflecting her grief. The turning point occurs when she realizes that swimming helps her cope with loss. The emotions are heavy as she begins to find healing through the water's embrace, solidifying her resolve to honor her brother’s memory.

Context: This moment showcases how personal healing happens and reinforces the theme of finding peace amidst turmoil.

Tyler's Failed Attempt to Reach Out

Tyler makes an emotional call to Emma, trying to articulate his feelings of regret. His struggle to find the right words creates tension as he fears she won’t understand. The pivotal moment is when he breaks down, revealing his vulnerability and longing. After this attempt fails, it adds to his sense of isolation, pushing him deeper into his own darkness.

Context: This moment underlines the theme of miscommunication and emotional distance, which tragically underscores their relationship.

The Final Confrontation

In a climactic confrontation, Tyler and his father come face to face regarding their contentious relationship. The exchange is charged with raw emotion, and Tyler voices his struggle for independence. The turning point arrives when his father breaks down, admitting his flaws. This moment leads to a fragile reconciliation that shows growth on both sides.

Context: This confrontation encapsulates the struggles of familial relationships and the path toward understanding and forgiveness.

The Mourning Scene

The family comes together to mourn Tyler, surrounded by heartfelt memories. The build-up through previous scenes creates an emotional heaviness. The pivotal moment comes when each family member shares their favorite memory of Tyler; the release of tears is cathartic. The aftermath lays the foundation for healing as they vow to cherish his memory, illustrating love eclipsing their pain.

Context: This scene enriches the film's exploration of love and loss, encapsulating the emotional core of the family’s journey.

A New Dawn for Kate

In the film's closing moments, Kate visits the pool again, filled with a renewed sense of purpose. The visuals shift to bright sunlight cascading into the water. The pivotal moment occurs when she dives in, symbolizing rebirth and embracing life. The aftereffects resonate as viewers feel hope and transformation, allowing the film's themes of resilience and growth to shine.

Context: Kate’s final moment reflects the broader message of the film about moving forward and finding light after darkness.

Tyler and Emma's Goodbye

In their final conversation, Tyler and Emma share bittersweet memories before parting ways. The tension lies in the understanding that their lives have changed forever. The pivotal moment occurs when Tyler acknowledges Emma's role in his life, poignantly saying, 'You were my light.’ This emotional exchange serves as a final farewell that resonates deeply with viewers, where love and regret intertwine.

Context: This moment captures the essence of young love and the melancholy of growth and change, allowing viewers to reflect on their own relationships.

The Healing Process

In a heartfelt scene, Kate attends therapy for the first time. The buildup includes her initial reluctance to open up. The pivotal moment occurs when she finally voices her feelings about her brother. The visual close-ups highlight her tears and expressions of fear and pain. The aftermath illustrates her courage to confront grief, showing significant character development.

Context: This scene reinforces the importance of mental health and the necessity of seeking support during hard times, central to the film's themes.

Tyler's Past with Wrestling

Flashbacks to Tyler's practice sessions reveal the bond between him and his coach, highlighting their mentor-student relationship. The pivotal moment occurs when the coach offers Tyler advice on both wrestling and life. These memories beautifully contrast with Tyler’s current struggles, making his eventual fall from grace even more poignant.

Context: This insight into Tyler’s passion for wrestling deepens the audience's empathy for his character and foreshadows the impact of his choices.

Revisiting Memories

Kate revisits her brother's room, surrounded by remnants of their childhood. The tension is tangible as she navigates through bittersweet memories. The pivotal moment comes when she picks up a picture of them together, deciding to keep it close. This act symbolizes her acceptance and love, and the aftermath shows her starting to heal, leading to her character growth.

Context: This scene highlights the lasting bond between siblings and emphasizes the theme of memory in the process of grieving.

Tyler's Music Therapy

In a quiet moment, Tyler finds solace in music, allowing himself to grieve through song. The buildup focuses on the cathartic release he experiences. The poignant moment occurs when he breaks down while playing, releasing pent-up emotions. This is a critical turning point that signifies his first step toward healing, as music becomes a therapeutic outlet for him.

Context: This scene ties into the film's exploration of coping mechanisms, showing how art can be a powerful form of expression during hard times.

The Graduation Scene

At the graduation ceremony, scenes of celebration clash with a sense of loss still lingering in the air. The pivotal moment occurs when Kate stands, delivering a heartfelt speech in honor of her brother. This emotional tribute resonates deeply, as she reflects on love, loss, and perseverance. The audience's reactions are heartwarming yet heartbreaking, as they share in her pain and pride.

Context: This graduation scene encapsulates the film's central themes of fulfillment and the complexities of moving forward in the face of tragedy.

The Reckoning with Self

Tyler stands alone in the gym, reflecting on his failures and lost opportunities. The pivotal moment occurs as he faces his reflection and whispers promises to himself. The intensity of his self-reflection provides profound emotional weight, highlighting his desire to change. This moment serves as a pathway for redemption, guiding his character toward growth.

Context: This scene embodies the theme of self-discovery and the personal struggle toward becoming a better version of oneself.

Celebrating Life

In a poignant family gathering, they share stories about Tyler, evoking laughter and tears. The pivotal moment is marked when they all raise a toast to his memory, celebrating the joy he brought into their lives. This cathartic moment reinforces love over grief, allowing the family to unite in their shared heartache while fostering healing.

Context: This celebration of life closes the film on a note of hope, reiterating the film's message about the power of love and remembrance.

A Letter to Tyler

In a postcard format, Kate pen-in-hand writes a letter to Tyler, detailing her thoughts and feelings now that he’s gone. The emotional weight hits when she expresses her longing for his advice and companionship. The pivotal moment unfolds during her closing remark, 'I’ll keep your spirit alive in my heart.’ This act signifies her commitment to living in honor of him.

Context: This letter serves as a narrative device tying themes of connection and loss throughout the film, leaving viewers with a sense of bittersweet hope.

The Road to Redemption

As the film concludes, Tyler’s family sets off on a road trip, representing a new beginning. The tension from their past slowly fades with each passing mile. The pivotal moment comes when they share laughter, reflecting their growth and willingness to cherish each other moving forward. The imagery of the open road symbolizes hope and new beginnings.

Context: This final resolution encapsulates all storylines, emphasizing the film's themes of healing and resilience, affirming the enduring bonds of family.


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The Unique Structure of the Script

The screenplay for 'Waves' was initially structured as a single continuous narrative but evolved into two distinct acts focusing on different characters, creating a dramatic shift in perspective.

Why it matters: This change emphasizes the emotional weight carried by each character, enriching the story's complexity and allowing for deeper audience connection as it explores contrasting journeys of grief and resilience.

Improvisation During Filming

Many dialogue scenes, especially with Sterling K. Brown, were improvised to bring authenticity to his character, an approach encouraged by director Trey Edward Shults.

Why it matters: The improvisation adds a layer of realism to emotional exchanges, making the father-son dynamics feel more relatable and grounded in everyday life, enhancing viewer engagement.

Use of Specific Color Palettes

Shults utilized distinct color palettes for each act—vibrant, warm tones for the first act and cooler, darker tones for the second, visually representing the emotional arcs of the characters.

Why it matters: This artistic choice not only supports the narrative shifts but also communicates the psychological transitions of the characters visually, allowing the audience to subconsciously feel these changes.

Caleb’s Dance Performance

Kelvin Harrison Jr. underwent intense dance training for his role, which included sessions with choreographers to ensure fluidity and expressiveness in his dance scenes.

Why it matters: The choreography becomes a critical part of Caleb's character development, showcasing his range of emotion and passion, which resonates with the film's themes of youth and turmoil.

Cameos from Personal Friends

Several of the extra characters at the parties are friends of the director and crew, adding an authentic vibe to the social gatherings depicted in the film.

Why it matters: This choice enhances the liveliness of these scenes, making them feel genuine and relatable, allowing audiences to experience the chaotic energy of youth culture.

Naturalistic Sound Design

The sound design team recorded ambient sounds from parties, beaches, and homes to create an immersive auditory experience that reflects the characters' realities.

Why it matters: This meticulous attention to sound enhances the film’s authenticity and emotional resonance, allowing the audience to feel fully immersed in the characters' environments and emotional states.

Editing and Music Sync

The film's editing was closely synced with the musical score, with specific beats aligning with character transitions and emotional beats, enhancing storytelling.

Why it matters: This connection between editing and music elevates the film's emotional impact, allowing the audience to experience a heightened connection with the characters' journeys.

Inspiration from Personal Experiences

Director Trey Edward Shults drew from his own family experiences and personal losses, infusing the film with raw and genuine emotional depth.

Why it matters: Shults’ personal connection to the material allows for a more meaningful exploration of grief and family dynamics, resonating with viewers on a more profound level.

Casting Decisions

The casting of Sterling K. Brown was pivotal; his gravitas lends an extra layer of depth to the father figure, contrasting beautifully with the youthful cast.

Why it matters: Brown's performance adds complexity to the dynamics of a family coping with tragedy, making the film’s emotional core more impactful and nuanced.

Cinematic Influences

Shults cited Terrence Malick and the film 'Moonlight' as influences on the visual style and narrative structure of 'Waves', striving for a blend of lyrical storytelling and emotional realism.

Why it matters: These influences introduce a poetic rhythm to the narrative, engaging the audience through visual metaphor while underscoring the film's thematic explorations of love and loss.

The Use of Non-Linear Storytelling

The decision to split the film into two halves not only changes the focus but also serves to juxtapose different perspectives on grief and recovery.

Why it matters: This non-linear storytelling enriches the viewing experience, making it more dynamic and thought-provoking as it allows viewers to witness the repercussions of actions from different angles.

The Symbolic Use of Water

Water serves as a recurring motif throughout the film, symbolizing both life's beauty and the emotional turbulence experienced by the characters.

Why it matters: This motif deepens the film’s thematic explorations, inviting multiple interpretations of the characters’ struggles and triumphs, ultimately enhancing the emotional journey.

Dynamic Camera Movement

Cinematographer Daniil Granin utilized dynamic handheld camera work to evoke intimacy and tension, closely following character movements, especially during emotionally charged scenes.

Why it matters: This technique immerses viewers into the characters' experiences, allowing for a visceral connection to their emotional states and enhancing the film's dramatic tension.

Shooting Locations

The film was shot in various locations in Florida, creatively utilizing the landscape to symbolize the characters' emotional states and journey.

Why it matters: This geographical diversity not only adds visual richness to the film but also serves as a backdrop that reflects the inner turmoil of the characters.

Influence of Social Media

Social media plays a role in the film’s narrative, particularly in how it affects relationships and perceptions, showcasing modern youth's reliance on digital communication.

Why it matters: This element grounds the film in contemporary issues, making its themes more relevant to modern audiences and adding layers to character interactions.

The Role of Family Dynamics

The script emphasizes the complexities of family relationships, with dialogues highlighting expectations, disappointments, and the growth of family bonds even in tragedy.

Why it matters: This focus allows the audience to explore the nuanced nature of familial love and conflict, adding depth to character motivations and relationships.

Compositional Choices

The film's soundtrack features a blend of contemporary music and classical pieces, reflecting the emotional spectrum of the characters' experiences.

Why it matters: This eclectic musical choice enriches the viewing experience, enhancing emotional beats and supporting character developments as they navigate their challenges.

Impact of Technology

The film subtly explores the impact of technology on personal connections, particularly how text messages and online interactions shape relationships.

Why it matters: By incorporating this theme, the film raises relevant questions about modern intimacy and isolation, resonating with viewers who navigate similar challenges.

Evolving Relationships

Key relationships evolve drastically throughout the film, reflecting on how personal tragedy can alter dynamics between family members and friends.

Why it matters: This evolution serves to highlight the theme of resilience and adaptation, reinforcing the film’s core message regarding the importance of connection in overcoming adversity.

Final Scene's Emotional Weight

The final scene was shot with intense emotional preparation from the actors, many of whom drew on personal experiences to convey the depth of loss and healing.

Why it matters: This preparation lends authenticity to the film's conclusion, solidifying its emotional impact on audiences and creating a lasting resonance long after the credits roll.


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Strangers on a Train

Regular Show: The Movie

CJ7