2019 continues to be the year of A24 as the studio is making *waves* with its slate of Awards Calibur projects. Between “The Farewell,” “The Lighthouse,” “Uncut Gems,” and “The Last Black Man in San Francisco,” just to name a few, everyone’s favorite indie studio is showing that they’ve seriously come to play this awards season. With the latest trailer for Trey Edward Shults‘ masterful film festival favorite “Waves,” the dominance continues.
“Waves” marks the third feature film from writer/director Trey Edward Shults (“It Comes At Night“), and with it, we lay witness to a filmmaker who’s not only firmly found his voice but is in complete control of his craft well beyond his years. I saw the film back at the Toronto International Film Festival and haven’t been able to shake its profound impact. Consumed by emotions, it became more evident to me that Shults has put forth the rare kind of profoundly human experience that’s moving, intoxicating, ruthless, heartbreaking, yet leaves one with optimism making for one of the most exceptional films of the year.
Inspired in part by Shults’ personal experiences, much of the final product is the result of a close collaboration between Shults and lead actor Kelvin Harrison Jr. The film also stars Lucas Hedges, Taylor Russell, Alexa Demie, Neal Huff, Clifton Collins, Jr., with Renée Elise Goldsberry and Sterling K. Brown. The synopsis is as follows:
Set against the vibrant landscape of South Florida, and featuring an astonishing ensemble of award-winning actors and breakouts alike, Waves traces the epic emotional journey of a suburban African-American family— led by a well-intentioned but domineering father—as they navigate love, forgiveness and coming together in the aftermath of a loss. From acclaimed director Trey Edward Shults, Waves is a heartrending story about the universal capacity for compassion and growth even in the darkest of times.
While “Waves” is by no means a musical, music is such an integral part in shaping the moody atmosphere of the narrative, immersing audiences into the headspace of this South Florida family, allowing for the emotions to flourish. Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross provide a fitting score accompanied by one hell of a soundtrack featuring songs by Frank Ocean, Kanye West, Animal Collective, Radiohead, and many others. While the first trailer entirely leaned into the aesthetic and feeling one gets while experiencing Shults’ film (proudly boasting Frank Ocean’s “Godspeed”), this second trailer, while still placing an emphasis on music with Dinah Washington’s “What a Diff’rence a Day Made,” focuses more on the family drama, specifically the demanding relationship between Tyler and his father and the immense pressures of perfectionism placed on him.
“Waves” is rated R, has a runtime of 135 minutes, and hits theaters November 15 on a limited release with an expansion to follow.