In Waves
In Waves
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Watch-outs
What this film brings
Content barometer
Violence
1/5
Mild
Fear
2/5
A few scenes
Sexuality
1/5
Allusions
Language
1/5
Mild
Narrative complexity
2/5
Moderate
Adult themes
0/5
None
Expert review
In Waves appears to be a teen romantic drama built around first love, surfing, friendship, and the hardship of serious illness, with a tender and sad atmosphere rather than a frightening one. The main sensitive elements are the emotional impact of a severe medical condition, the repeated idea that a young girl may not survive, sustained scenes of grief, and a high school romance with mild affectionate behavior but no clear explicit sexual content in the available summary. Based on the synopsis, this does not look like a violent or horror driven film, yet it may feel intense for younger viewers because the sadness is central to the story and likely returns throughout the narrative. The emotional weight seems frequent rather than occasional, since the couple's struggle against illness is the core conflict. Parents may want to watch with children who are sensitive, briefly prepare them for themes of sickness and possible loss, and leave room afterward for questions about love, fear, and mortality.
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.
Difficult scenes
The turning point of the story comes when Kristen becomes ill, shifting the film from a bright teen love story into a struggle against adversity. Even without clearly graphic medical material in the available summary, this development can unsettle younger viewers because the film appears to stress how fragile the couple's future has become and how serious the situation may be. Several scenes are likely to show AJ and the people around him dealing with pain, uncertainty, and grief. These moments may involve crying, helplessness, and conversations about Kristen's condition, which can hit hard for children who have experienced illness in their family or who are especially sensitive to separation and loss. The romance between the two teenagers is central and may include kissing, loving declarations, and strong emotional attachment. This content is likely mild in sexual terms, yet the depth of their bond makes the crisis scenes more intense and can make the sadness harder for young viewers to keep at an emotional distance. The story also seems to use surfing, the ocean, and loyal friends as sources of hope while illness remains in the background. That contrast between joyful moments and looming loss can be especially poignant for children, because the uplifting scenes do not fully remove the worry created by the couple's situation.
Where to watch
No verified platform for the US market yet. We keep this section updated as availability changes.
Availability checked on Apr 01, 2026
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
Violence
1/5
Mild
Fear
2/5
A few scenes
Sexuality
1/5
Allusions
Language
1/5
Mild
Narrative complexity
2/5
Moderate
Adult themes
0/5
None
Expert review
In Waves appears to be a teen romantic drama built around first love, surfing, friendship, and the hardship of serious illness, with a tender and sad atmosphere rather than a frightening one. The main sensitive elements are the emotional impact of a severe medical condition, the repeated idea that a young girl may not survive, sustained scenes of grief, and a high school romance with mild affectionate behavior but no clear explicit sexual content in the available summary. Based on the synopsis, this does not look like a violent or horror driven film, yet it may feel intense for younger viewers because the sadness is central to the story and likely returns throughout the narrative. The emotional weight seems frequent rather than occasional, since the couple's struggle against illness is the core conflict. Parents may want to watch with children who are sensitive, briefly prepare them for themes of sickness and possible loss, and leave room afterward for questions about love, fear, and mortality.
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.
Difficult scenes
The turning point of the story comes when Kristen becomes ill, shifting the film from a bright teen love story into a struggle against adversity. Even without clearly graphic medical material in the available summary, this development can unsettle younger viewers because the film appears to stress how fragile the couple's future has become and how serious the situation may be. Several scenes are likely to show AJ and the people around him dealing with pain, uncertainty, and grief. These moments may involve crying, helplessness, and conversations about Kristen's condition, which can hit hard for children who have experienced illness in their family or who are especially sensitive to separation and loss. The romance between the two teenagers is central and may include kissing, loving declarations, and strong emotional attachment. This content is likely mild in sexual terms, yet the depth of their bond makes the crisis scenes more intense and can make the sadness harder for young viewers to keep at an emotional distance. The story also seems to use surfing, the ocean, and loyal friends as sources of hope while illness remains in the background. That contrast between joyful moments and looming loss can be especially poignant for children, because the uplifting scenes do not fully remove the worry created by the couple's situation.