Hey, Reader: “Waves”/ The Movies That Must be Made
So, My Monday, this week, was--unlike typical Mondays--quite wonderful. And, There’s one reason in particular as to why: I woke up at about 11 am, traveled in the bitter cold winds of 36 degrees weather, and sat in the front left section--the third row of the seats closest to the screen--to watch a lovely indie movie called “Waves”. It’s also worth mentioning that the theater’s concession food and the staff were amazing, as well (Support your local indie theaters, fam!!!), but I digress.
“Waves” is an emotional movie--written and directed by Trey Edward Shults, under studio A24--, centering a suburban, African American family, who endure an immense and transformative tragedy, all the while, learn to mend the broken by fixing some errors from within, and building the emotional support for one another; which was lacking since the movie began.
The list of main characters includes Tyler (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), the “prodigy” of the family, who’s the main focus of the first half of the film. Ronald (Sterling K. Brown), the Stern,--kind of-- myopic Father; also, the leader of the family. Emily (Taylor Russell), who plays as more so in the background, in the shadow of her brother, Tyler, in the first half of the movie. However, in the second half, She becomes more of her own person, and is noticed as such; like a butterfly, bursting out of a cocoon of disregard and loneliness. And, lastly, is the ever-so supportive step-mother, Catharine(Renee Elise Goldsberry). Catharine gets a thin beam of light shined on her as well, in the film’s second half.
There’s also a couple of side characters worth mentioning. Like, Alexis(Alexa Demie), Tyler’s girlfriend, and Luke(Lucas Hedges), Emily’s love interest. Both of these characters, not only support and complement The children in the main cast but, in their own ways, are essential to the plot. They also provided their own--kind of--nuanced themes to the film, that allows it to be that much more meaningful to viewers. Which brings me to the overall importance of the film. And no, this isn’t just another film review.
In 2016, Adele Romanski, Dede Gardner, and Jeremy Kleiner Produced a movie--directed by Barry Jenkins--called “Moonlight”. Based on the life of a black man, struggling with his sexuality and identity, throughout his childhood, adolescence, and adulthood; “Moonlight” was a film that hit home for a lot of people who struggle with those same issues--African American or not--, and opened the eyes of those who don’t face these challenges, just for the sake of understanding those that do. Movies like “Waves” and “Moonlight” give us nuanced takes on the true lives of black folks, that not only tear down the stigmas of the black man, family, and lifestyle; but also helps people realize that some of the issues they face are just the same as the ones, say, a caucasian family would; cultural differences aside.
However, for black people, specifically, The fact that these movies feature a black main cast gives us better, more meaningful stories, than ones filled with stereotypes, like “Baby Boy”, written and directed by John Singleton, and released in 2001. In “Waves”, one Theme that resonates with viewers is the pressure placed on black parents, in America, to raise their children “the right way”, in order to succeed--and survive--in a country that will always be infinitely harder on them. If there’s too much focus on that, and less on the emotional welfare of a child, and support, things could take a horrible turn. This is exactly what we see in the movie, between Ronald and Tyler. That dynamic shook me to my core because, as a young black man, myself, one of my biggest worries for the future is being able to raise my children with a correct balance of love, and preparation for this cruel world; a consideration I wasn’t given, growing up.
That connection, paired with many others that I have with “Waves”, is why I will always advocate for movies like it. Art, in all its forms, has the power to make us better people, and the power to build bridges of understanding and empathy, when done correctly. Bridges that can lead us all to a better world. And I’d love to see more of us aid in construction.
Have a nice day, Reader. Talk to you soon.
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