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REVIEW: Far Beyond the Waves

"Our life is like a single drop in the ocean."

 Sometimes the combination of beautiful cinematography and the raw flow of an honest narrative is enough to make the most effective, memorable and impactful film. ‘Far Beyond the Waves’ is one such film. It tells the beautifully moving story of a couple who meet with perhaps the most unexpected fear any parent can face.

“We sometimes never fully understand what we've lived through, or feel we've had enough time. Life doesn't always work out the way we thought it would, does it?”

This story, lovingly and sensitively told, is written through metaphors: the waves that are sometimes calm, sometimes unpredictable, as life is. Charlotte Nall reveals her personal trauma in going through a stillbirth with her husband, and in doing so paints the bittersweet portrait of a precious, fleeting life. The charity they set up, Little Fingers, seeks to bring comfort and support to families who go through the same experience, to bring awareness to the world that every life, no matter how short, is important. You can visit their webpage here: http://www.littlefingers.org.uk/

Directed by Simon Reinert (a director and filmmaker from NYC), 'Far Beyond the Waves' is a visual masterpiece. Accompanying the story is an astonishingly array of colours and scenes: a soft focus of sunshine through spring leaves; wide steady shots of long grey beaches and looming cliffs. Every shot is visually pleasing to the eye, combining contrasting complimentary colours like hazy blues, soft oranges and muted grey tones to create an unforgettable aesthetic.

The orange and blue film look, or rather amber and teal, is now one of the most sought after film grading colour palettes out there, and in this film it really does deliver. It isn't harsh in contrast, nor does it isolate the characters from the background. Instead the colour grading is subtle, and gentle enough to entice the audience into an entrancing viewing experience. The angle, framing and focus all enhance the narrative by telling their own small, and yet significant part of the bigger picture. One thing is certain, 'Far Beyond the Waves' encompasses simple, effective storytelling at its best.
You can view the full film here: https://vimeo.com/237366587
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