Mortality has been a recurring theme over the last few years in cinema – Hamnet (2025) explored a parent grieving the loss of their child, Sinners (2025) sunk its teeth into the curse of immortality, and The Life of Chuck (2024) mused on how our lives are a tapestry of those around us. But what we have yet to delve into is the stark, seemingly never-ending hourglass reality of terminal illness on a person and those they love. Director Phuong Mai Nguyen does exactly that in her feature-length directorial debut, In Waves, playing as part of the Semaine de la Critique sidebar at the 79th edition of Cannes.
Based on a graphic novel by AJ Dungo that is a deeply personal account of his life, lively surf enthusiast Kristen (English voice actress Stephanie Hsu) meets timid illustrator AJ (English voice actor Will Sharpe) in what transforms into a swoon-worthy coming-of-age romance. However, the fairy-tale haze clears when Kristen is diagnosed with cancer and must reconcile with its implications on herself as well as her relationship with AJ.
The narrative excels in its witty, heart-warming, and harrowing writing by Fanny Burdino and Samuel Doux. Conversations between AJ and Kristen feel so natural and true to young love, which is the make-or-break of any depiction of teen romance. Even beyond the early years of their relationship, Burdino and Doux eloquently evolve the characters’ communication styles as they move into adulthood, where they are faced with more complex challenges to overcome together, like Kristen’s illness.
More often than not, films with similar themes lean towards conflict that results in at least one of the characters becoming mean-spirited. In Waves contradicts this trend by all means, with AJ outpouring tenderness and care to Kristen’s potentially fleeting life, even in the darkest of moments. We see mortality explored through the lens of anticipatory grief and how that can be guided by love rather than fear.
Despite the tonal transition to a more devastating yet cathartic dissection of mortality, sacrifice and the strength of love against all, the narrative never wavers. The writers are able to effortlessly balance the warmth with the bleak moments – the ebbs and flows during their time with one another mimicking the rise and fall of ocean waves.
In the English version, Hsu and Sharpe breathe life into AJ and Kristen. Their chemistry is palpable, evidently bouncing off one another despite it only being through the exchange of dialogue. Hsu’s countless voice acting credits, ranging from Leo (2023) to The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy (TV Series 2024–), meant that she was more equipped than most for the role, which was evident in her performance. In contrast, Sharpe holds his own in spite of only having one voice acting credit prior. Alongside Burdino and Doux’s stunning writing, AJ and Kristen are truly at the heart of In Waves.
Yet another highlight of the film is the beautiful animation. From its soft pastel hues to its choice of 2D animation (an ode to the source medium) and its seamless transitions between scenes, every frame of the film encapsulates the atmosphere of a French Impressionist painting. The artistry of the animation is the visual representation of the beauty in Kristen and AJ’s story – reinforcing their strong feelings of adoration.
At times, it felt like a huge undertaking to tastefully and respectfully adapt the source material, but Nguyen does it with ease. Compacted into a breezy 90-minute runtime, Nguyen still allows the audience to sit with AJ and Kristen long enough at each stage of their lives for the emotional peaks to carry weight.
In Waves dives into the pockets of happiness and admiration that can be found in the most stark of times – reframing the way we should think about our attitude to life when a loved one has a terminal illness.
Review Courtesy of Nandita Joshi
Feature Image Courtesy of Silex Films & Diaphana Distribution