In Waves
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Detailed parental analysis
In Waves is an intimate drama with a bittersweet atmosphere, centred on the serious illness of a young woman and those around her until the end. The plot follows the journey of a young woman suffering from osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone disease, through the bonds of love and friendship that sustain her. The film is primarily aimed at mature adolescent and adult audiences, those drawn to narratives of profound emotion and loss.
Social Themes
Serious illness lies at the heart of the narrative: osteosarcoma is depicted in its clinical and emotional reality, with all that entails in terms of physical pain, intensive treatments and progressive deterioration. The film does not look away from the death of a young person, which makes it an emotionally demanding experience. For an adolescent, this direct confrontation with mortality can be deeply unsettling, but also profoundly formative if accompanied by support.
Underlying Values
The film structures its narrative around romantic love and friendship as responses to suffering and helplessness in the face of illness. These bonds are presented as essential forces of support, without naive idealisation: the film acknowledges the limits of what love can do in the face of death. This narrative honesty is a strength, but it deserves to be discussed with a young viewer to prevent them from concluding that love alone is enough to endure the unbearable.
Parental and Family Portrayals
In a narrative centred on the illness of a young adult, parental and family figures typically play a role of significant presence or absence. Their representation in this film contributes to the emotional texture of the collective grief experienced by those around the protagonist, and can open a conversation about how a family faces the unacceptable together.
Strengths
In Waves draws its strength from its ability to address a devastating subject without falling into easy sentimentality or moral instruction. The narrative takes time to show the texture of human relationships in the face of hardship, which gives it a rare emotional density. For an adolescent old enough to reflect on the fragility of life, the film offers a space for projection and difficult questioning that is hard to find elsewhere. Its educational value lies less in what it teaches than in what it makes one feel and in the questions it leaves open.
Age recommendation and discussion points
The film is not recommended for children under 13 due to the direct depiction of serious illness and the death of a young woman. From age 14 onwards, it can be watched comfortably by an adolescent accompanied by an available adult to discuss it afterwards. Two angles of discussion emerge after viewing: how can those close to someone continue to live after such a loss, and what does this film say about the way we choose to spend the time we have left with those we love.
Synopsis
AJ, a shy teenager, meets Kristen while in high school in Los Angeles. Kristen is passionate about surfing… and she’s the most beautiful person he’s ever met. He falls madly in love with her. As life seems to finally come together for AJ, Kristen’s life starts falling apart, shattered by illness. Together, they will fight adversity with dignity and enjoy their now-shared passion for surfing and for the ocean, but also their loyal band of friends… even when they know Kristen is doomed. This is what happens when love and friendship become a wave stronger than anything.
About this title
- Format
- Feature film
- Year
- 2026
- Runtime
- 1h 30m
- Countries
- France, Belgium, United States of America
- Original language
- FR
- Directed by
- Phuong Mai Nguyen
- Main cast
- Rio Vega, Lyna Khoudri, Paul Kircher, Birane Ba, Gauthier Battoue
- Studios
- Silex Films, Panique!, Charades, France 3 Cinéma, Anonymous Content, Gao Shan Pictures
Content barometer
- Violence0/5None
- Fear3/5Notable tension
- Sexuality1/5Allusions
- Language0/5None
- Narrative complexity3/5Complex
- Adult themes0/5None
Values conveyed
- Friendship
- Compassion
- Loyalty
- courage
- resilience
- love