Waves (2019)

2h 15m / R / Romance, Drama

Set (and largely filmed) in South Florida, and featuring an astonishing array of breakout performances, Waves traces the epic emotional journey of a suburban African-American family — Tyler (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), a high school wrestler struggling to make good choices, his well-intentioned but domineering father (Sterling K. Brown), his younger sister and their friends and relations — as they manage love, forgiveness, and coming together in the devastating aftermath of 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.

The newest film in our inaugural Black Love series, Waves hasn’t had the same amount of time to make a cultural impact some of the other selections have — there’s a lot of power inherent in the movies you had on your home’s VHS shelf when you were growing up. But time will tell. Waves navigates topics like the rage-shame-despair-self-hate cycle of toxic masculinity, the dimensions of familial responsibility, and the horrific uncertainty of life when every possible future feels terrifying.

Presented in partnership with the Gamma Zeta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival. Following the screening, father, business owner, and media professional Clem Harrod will lead a short audience conversation about some of the themes in the film.

Interested in more films like this?

Click the view the rest of the Black Love 2022 series or the Black Love Film List

The Black Love Classics Series is presented by TECO.
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