Waves

I felt like more could have been done with the second part, the pacing honestly felt flipped. The initial intensity of the first half, made the latter half feel lackluster in some ways. The emotional turmoil and the effects of numerous forms of abuse (alcohol, drugs, physical whether familial or within the context of the relationship) set a tone with such torturous depth that each scene brought a sense of anticipation for, what felt like would be and was, a shocking climax. However, what follows is what is my biggest critique for the film. The situation ultimately unraveled a Pandora’s box full of devastation and grief. The suffering becomes the deciding factor that causes the family to fall apart and is a source of complexities for each individual in the family, as we see through the younger sister and daughter. Side note: her relationship felt surprisingly stable? Is this a metaphorical callback to the title? But, I can’t help but think that the director cut some corners and did away with what could have been a much more drawn out plot for the second half. A more fleshed out display of the after effects rather than falling reliant on visual storytelling to represent the complicated thoughts and emotions of the daughter may have benefited the film. The cinematography is on point, yet the storyline falls short. Crashing, violent waves to a much calmer, peaceful pace is what unfortunately disappointed me. Could have been done much better, there weren’t enough relevant conflicts or resolutions that came out of the first half that was shown in the second. Still a great watch. That first half is just wow.