One of the year’s best films, the searing family drama “Waves,” comes from a director, Trey Edward Shults, that Rolling Stone dubs “one major young filmmaker.”
Shults, 31, is also writer, co-editor, a producer and a music editor on “Waves.”
Rich in color, sound and swirling camera movements, “Waves” limits the dialogue as it follows teen siblings Tyler (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) and Emily (Taylor Russell in a breakout performance).
“Hopefully it feels immersive, that you’re living it with the characters’ perspective, with Tyler and then Emily,” Shults said. “If I can tell a story visually and put that over dialogue, I get really excited.”
Reviewers are excited by Shults. Michael Phillips, of the Chicago Tribune, said “Waves” is “both unpredictable and powerful in its impact.” Manohla Dargis in The New York Times writes: ” ‘Waves’ is the story of a Florida family nearly undone by a shocking tragedy. It’s also a spectacular testament to the talents of the writer-director Trey Edward Shults, making just his third feature-length movie.”
Shults’ earlier “Krisha” (2015) and “It Comes at Night” (2017) dealt with family. He met Harrison on the latter film and wrote Tyler for him. The role, Shults said, fuses his own experiences with those of Harrison. Shults, raised by his mother and stepfather, reunited with his biological father shortly before the man died in 2013.
In “Waves,” Emmy winner Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”) plays the teens’ stern father, and Tony winner Ren?e Elise Goldsberry (“Hamilton”) portrays their concerned stepmother.
“I’m a lucky man,” Shults, who lives in Orlando, says of his cast. “We built it together to where at the end it felt like a beautiful, collaborative family.”
When the film pauses for dialogue, the results can be shattering. Phillips called attention to a scene between the father and Emily, saying it’s “just about perfect.”
“To me, that’s the heartbeat scene of the film, and the whole film is leading to that scene,” Shults said. “We just got out of the way, and just wanted to let the actors act. You’re dealing with two amazing actors.”
The focus on family sets “Waves” apart from many year-end movies. “Family is very important for me, man, trying to explore the good and bad of family and the gray and everything in between because we’re complex human beings,” he said. “It can be a powerful thing seeing how a family can fall apart but also come back together after the worst tragedy.”
“Waves” filmed mostly in Broward County in South Florida. But there is a scene at Weeki Wachee, “one of my favorite places on Earth,” Shults said.
Shults said he has been in Orlando a few years and listed what he and his girlfriend enjoy, including their house, their neighborhood, the restaurants, Disney and the kayaking.
Would he film here?
“Who knows? Maybe. I love Orlando,” Shults said.
He said he had no idea about his next film. “I’m a blank slate. I put it all in this movie,” he said.
As for awards talk, Shults said, “It’s humbling, it’s great to hear it, you never know how any of that stuff will go. I’m just trying to get this movie out there and just trying to get word of mouth.” He added, “There’s a ton of great movies right now. I just hope ours can break through.”
So spread the word, Orlando: You have a major filmmaker living in your community.
