Written and directed by Ben S. Hyland, a man experiences an existential crisis as he tries to unravel the identity of the man that he waves at. Who is the man? Why does he wave? Who was the instigator of the first wave? Why does he haunt his dreams? Starring: Sam Pamphilon, Rebecca Shorrocks, Marek Larwood, Jessica Fostekew and Matt Skillington.
One of the wonderful things about The Man That I Wave At is something that Ben S. Hyland has proven over the years that he’s very good at, and that’s seeing the different levels to a situation. It’s something that’s especially helpful with comedy, to see the everyday humour in it but to also see its potential for mishaps, mayhem and curiosities. Starting with how we all have these little affectations, like waving to people in the street, that we don’t really think about and when you actually do think about it, they seem strange, opening that up into a rabbit hole of oddity. Hyland really has a great time with twisting and evolving that everyday instance into something much more complicated and mysterious.
Particularly when it comes to using the idea of an overactive imagination. Having that imaginative gift as a child is wonderful but having it as an adult can lead you into some dark places and paranoia, which Hyland really capitalises on with The Man That I Wave At. He creates this beautifully black sense of humour, it brings through a captivatingly blended mix of genres. Especially because the whole thing is delivered with this tone of being adult story time, the narration is level and serene, which in itself is another great use of finding those different levels. It builds a classic note of mystery but also adds something slightly twisted, losing its grip on reality, slowly but surely.
All of those choices are then perfectly complemented by the brilliant aesthetic. David Cawley’s cinematography holds such a sincerity and weight to it, that it creates this unexpected depth. Pairing that with Hyland’s highly considered and quietly manipulative direction truly guides the experience of watching The Man That I Wave At. They know where and how they want to push viewers to unpack this story at the right pace, it’s all very controlled and channelled without ever feeling contrived or transparent. There’s this enveloping atmosphere to it, like it’s letting you in on a secret. Allowing it to build a comedy but also something much more than that, all leading up to a genuinely excellent ending.
There’s nothing worse than ending on a bum note, so it’s always great to see filmmakers really get it right and Hyland truly adds a terrific, unusual tone to round things out. He brings through all those levels that he’s been hinting at, and the bigger picture suddenly and satisfyingly clicks into place. Of course, all of that is brought to life in very British and entertaining fashion by the cast. Sam Pamphilon was a fantastic piece of casting, he’s a perfect choice to lead this story. There’s something so unthreatening yet curious about his presence, the type who are perfectly polite but you never quite know what’s lingering in the background. Rebecca Shorrocks is great as his partner and Marek Larwood does his best ‘wave like a person who has never seen anyone wave before’ impression and gives a really enjoyable performance without even needing to say a word.
The Man That I Wave At is quietly sad and satisfyingly sinister, it’s unpredictable and takes such an innocuous moment and unravels it in a fantastic, odd and imaginative way. The writing is superb to create an unusual story, and the contrast of its relaxed tone and narration with the unravelling nature of the story is enthralling. The direction, cinematography and editing all build upon one another to create a strong atmosphere that effortlessly draws you in. There’s a terrific cast at work, it’s funny, mysterious, unexpected and highly original.
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