Written and directed by Michael Petruzzelli, co-written by Spencer Glassman, over summer days by the lake, Toni grows closer to another young man and is forced to confront the emotional fallout of his awakened desire. As past and present blur, he navigates the quiet unravelling that follows. Starring: Anton Gillis-Adelman, Alexandra Rada, Isaac Kragten, Elda Sirizzotti and Miranda Brown.
Capturing the experience of burgeoning sexuality and desire is plenty to fill a short film in itself but Michael Petruzzelli and Spencer Glassman decided to take it a few steps further with It Comes in Waves. The number of layers that they manage to pack into this short film’s less than fifteen minute runtime is genuinely impressive. That classic longing of youth sits at its foundation then blossoms into a tale of friendship, identity and grief.
The way that Petruzzelli and Glassman unravel those layers is similarly excellent, it gives the story an unexpected quality which helps the emotional nature of It Comes in Waves hit a little harder. Especially in how it portrays Toni’s (Anton Gillis-Adelman) sensitivity, and how before coming out people can feel isolated and experience such internalised worry about losing friendships. Something that’s intensified when you have a friendship like that of Toni and Bella (Alexandra Rada) which is so strong and effortless.
Anton Gillis-Adelman and Alexandra Rada build such an incredibly sweet connection. The type of friends that can finish each other’s sentences, relentlessly rag on one another, and have an unspoken bond. They’re really enjoyable to watch and very cute, that friendship creates an interesting balance with the heavier notes of It Comes in Waves and helps it to feel natural and authentic. Gillis-Adelman gives a quiet, complex portrayal while Rada adds an outgoing, bubbly note which ups the energy of the film and brings out that teen quality even more.
Something that’s undoubtedly complemented by the cinematography from John Ker, and the great choice of location. They both set the tone for something wholesome and kind, which the story then matches. Michael Petruzzelli does a lovely job of creating that feel of summer and then building an organic tension and creating a sincere, sympathetic, gentle tone. All of which is more difficult when your story revolves around teenagers, but Petruzzelli pulls it off seamlessly. Those qualities are then also supported by the excellent score from Fashion Club, it has a terrific build to it to match the evolving emotions.
It Comes in Waves is moving, clever and tender. The performances from Anton Gillis-Adelman, Alexandra Rada and Isaac Kragten fill it with so much warmth and connection. There’s a strong aesthetic which is wholesome and very emotionally driven. Michael Petruzzelli and Spencer Glassman do a wonderful job of capturing a teen story that has a lot to say, and can say it with authenticity and genuine emotion. It can be cute and sweet one minute, driven by desire in the next, and then contemplative and sad in another. The tone is really well developed, it’s very clear in what it wants to achieve, but delivers it gently and sincerely, it’s a truly thoughtful short film.
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