Umi ga Kikoeru

Umi ga Kikoeru is a pretty different anime compared to other Studio Ghibli films, considering it doesn't have anything remotely magical/fantastical. It's actually quite the opposite: small town, small school where everyone knows each other, nothing over the top, and overall realistic and- I don't want to say "plain" but somewhere along these lines. STORY [8/10] The story is interesting and kept me wanting to watch more, but it wasn't...suspenseful? If you're looking for something emotional, don't watch this because it's kind of flat. It is most definitely coming-of-age but I would say in a good way. The conflicts that the characters experience are very realistic and relatable, as they're just third-year high school students getting ready for their futures. ART AND SOUND [9/10] Studio Ghibli doesn't joke around with art and they know what they're doing. Even if the plot is bad, you'd still keep watching because of how serene and pleasant it is. The soundtrack isn't anything too extravagant but there was this quirky soundtrack that made me feel some typa way so yeah. CHARACTER [6/10] The characters aren't perfect but not in a good way. I personally didn't find the female lead likable as she was SO manipulative to EVERYONE. It annoyed me even more because every time she saw something she didn't like, her eyes would become these scary snake ass slits and damn. If she was a real person, I definitely wouldn't like her. The male lead is okay but he's kind of dense and also kind of a jerk to his best friend. Overall, I think the characters could be better if they were more developed. The movie was definitely too short to do so with the characters and they definitely come across as underwhelming. Honestly, they could have more potential but... OVERALL [7/10] I mean...I'm being generous with the 7. I did think it was kind of enjoyable but the characters really ruined it for me. It definitely sounded super interesting but not executed well.

This was a bit of a letdown, to be honest. The plot was pretty bland and the final resolution was pretty unsatisfactory. The characters were not your typical protagonists, but the development of their characters didn’t really happen until the last 15 minutes of the movie. There were several points in the story where you think you know the characters and what will happen, but then later the characters act unexpectedly, and for reasons that simply you could not tell. That was a little confusing, but the mood of this movie is alright. The realism is refreshing, and I liked how friendship was a stronger theme than romance. But I wouldn’t watch this again.

Ocean Waves is to me an under-appreciated film. First off the animation and soundtrack are particularly beautifully done, simple, but it matches the atmosphere and weight of the story - very light. The plot is where this film can be seen as poorly done or strangely memorable, and I am coming down on the latter of the options. I myself have never really been one for coming of age tales, and this movie didn't change that fact, due to it almost being an pseudo coming of age / romance story. Characters don't go through life changing arcs as they mature, nor is there a heavy romantic overtone, or even undertone for that matter in the majority of the movie. Ocean Waves almost creates it's own sort of genre which I will call the "personal story" due to the story feeling mundane, but realistic, as it would be for the viewer's life experiences. So from the point of view that you are witnessing a very realistic depiction of a younger man's life, the story and characters may not be your absolute favourite, but it is immensely satisfying after you watch it. My only gripes being that it wasn't longer and having had more light shined on some of the side characters who were sort of made relevant at the end.

Ghibli, at the time, seemed to be going for a more realistic approach to anime. The Ocean Waves is such an anime. Directed by Tomomi Mochizuki (Ranma ½ S1 and episode director of various romance anime) he seemed to be the right choice. This is a very simple anime with it not trying to do anything more than it has to. The story follows Taku Morisaki during his high school days with his friend Yutaka until a Tokyo girl transfers into school. Thus, in true anime fashion creates various incidents between the three and how this Tokyo girl changes Taku. No this romance anime isn’t going to bring any tears or have anything truly worth building up, but a smooth story, good animation, and capturing human emotion is Ocean Waves’ strong points. This is definitely an anime for an older audience to understand the mature nature of the it’s story and characters. What happens in high school? What matters? How fragile is a relationship? These are just some of the topics hit in The Ocean Waves. Keeping it short, like the anime, while this is not the most exciting thing to come out of the Ghibli studio, it still is something worth noting. It is closer to compare the mature nature of Gauche the Cellist and combine with elements of Kimagure Orange Road. The Ocean Waves is something not to be overlooked, but also not anything breathtaking.

Ocean Waves feels like secretly flipping through someone’s old high school memories. The movie unfolds with the slightly awkward rhythm of youth where emotions are confusing, friendships become complicated overnight, and sometimes nobody really understands why. The story follows Taku Morisaki, a university student who begins reminiscing about his high school years in Kochi. Those memories revolve around two people who shaped that period of his life. There are his easygoing best friend Yutaka Matsuno, and the transfer student Rikako Muto, whose arrival disrupts the balance of their small social circle. Rikako enters the story with a certain distance around her. Smart, beautiful, but emotionally guarded, she immediately stands out from the rest of the class. Even though many admire her from afar, nobody actually understand her. Taku, somewhat unintentionally, becomes caught in the middle of her complicated situation, often helping her out of obligation. From there, the story builds tension through subtle misunderstandings and emotional friction. Friendship, loyalty, jealousy, and unspoken feelings begin to collide in small but meaningful ways. One moment the characters are simply classmates, and the next they find themselves entangled in conflicts that nobody really knows how to resolve. What makes Ocean Waves interesting is how grounded it feels. The characters behave like actual teenagers. Confused, sometimes selfish, occasionally kind, and often unsure of what they truly feel. Conversations are awkward, emotions are messy, and decisions are barely heroic. In other words, the movie captures adolescence in a way that feels surprisingly honest. Visually, the movie carries the gentle style associated with Studio Ghibli, though the production itself was handled largely by younger staff members within the studio. The coastal town setting is drawn with charm of soft skies, calm oceans, and streets that feel familiar. The atmosphere emphasizes everyday realism. The music complements that mood with understated melodies that match the reflective tone of the story. Rather than pushing emotional drama, the soundtrack allows scenes to breathe, letting silence and small interactions carry much of the narrative weight. However, the movie does have noticeable weaknesses. The plot moves quickly through certain developments, letting some character motivations feel underexplored. Rikako, in particular, can come across as difficult to understand and the narrative doesn’t always give enough context for her behavior. As a result, some people may struggle to emotionally connect with her actions. Additionally, because the movie focuses so heavily on subtle emotional shifts rather than strong plot momentum, parts of the story may feel uneventful. Those expecting a traditional romance with clear emotional payoffs might find the pacing too slow. Still, Ocean Waves offers something rare, which is a snapshot of youth that feels imperfect but authentic. The movie treats them as confusing experiences that slowly make sense only years later. In the end, Ocean Waves resembles a memory more than a conventional story. It's slightly messy, a little bittersweet, and filled with emotions that only become clear long after the moment has passed. Anyway, keep in mind that no opinion is ever purely objective, and every perspective remains open to discussion. Even so, each viewpoint still holds its own value. If you happen to see things differently, simple mutual respect is more than enough. That same respect is the spirit behind this reflection as well. Wishing everyone a peaceful day ahead, and thank you for taking the time to read.

The aesthetic of this film is its strongest feature. The late eighties/early nineties realistic depictions of Japan are amazing. If you liked the style of Only Yesterday, trade the countryside for Tokyo and you have a sense of what this film is. Everyone's main complaint is obvious. There is NO romance in what is supposed to be a romantic drama. Honestly if I had gone into this movie with just that expectation, I would have been horribly disappointed. It makes narratively no sense with what is happening. Would have been a 4/10 at best. However. I had heard someone say this was Ghibli's unofficial "gay movie". Didn't really know what to make of that until I actually sat down with that predisposition and watched the movie. If you watch (or hopefully rewatch if you did not like the movie/gave it a low score because of the previously mentioned complaint) please consider the following. *Spoilers* If Taku's character is only interested Rikako for the entire film, it does indeed make no narrative sense and the ending is jarring beyond repair. My opinion is that Taku is so infatuated with Yutaka during the high school portion of the narrative, that he completely ignores Rikako trying to get his interest or reciprocation. Taku's emotions are mute around Rikako but are lively around Yutaka. If there's one scene that sold me on this, it's when Taku tells Yutaka that he doesn't care about the rumors spreading about him and Rikako around the school. Immediately afterwards he finds out that Rikako rejected and insulted Yutaka, which resulted in him failing several exams. The second Taku hears this he goes and confronts Rikako and the two exchange slaps. During this scene he uses the rumors going around as justification for his anger. A minute ago, he had said he didn't care. If Taku is actually in love with Yutaka, everything in the scene (and the rest of the film for that matter) makes sense. He cannot exactly tell Rikako he is angry because she insulted Yutaka and hurt his chances at his preferred university without making it obvious that he has feelings for him. The conclusion. I finished this movie with the takeaway that Taku is bisexual and is so focused on Yutaka that he does not reciprocate any of Rikako's attention. After years gone by, he begins to realize what all her actions signified. He also seems to come to peace with the fact that Yutaka will not return any of his feelings. The movie ends with him starting a relationship with Rikako as he has likely come to value and idolize the time they shared in high school. This interpretation jumped the whole movie to an 8/10 for me. To be honest, I related to Taku's character more than nearly any other I can think off the top of my head in the last few years of anime watching. Or maybe I am just crazy, and this movie actually sucks. It might fail completely as a romantic drama and Taku is just a loser and an idiot. I'll let you be the judge.

A simple, nostalgic, and comforting film. Ocean Waves manages to portray a realistic high school experience and the (both desirable and not so desirable) things it entails. The characters are written in a way that makes them feel like actual high school students, each with their own flaws and imperfections. They experience new things together and support each other, but at the same time act childishly and get into overblown arguments. It is these elements that work together to convey the nostalgia of high school memories – the characters make mistakes, but are able to later look back fondly on the memories they've made. The relaxing music and simplistic art style complement the movie's slow, laidback atmosphere. However, I will say that the film isn't necessarily romantic, nor does it include a huge obstacle that forces the characters to work together to overcome like many other romance anime. This movie isn't for everyone, but I personally really liked how realistic and nostalgic the film felt.

Oh my god this movie infatuated me; I don't normally write reviews on MAL but I feel like I have a fair bit to say on this. Firstly, the animation. It's not as visually incredible as Ghibli's other works (e.g. Only Yesterday and My Neighbour Totoro came out before and take place in a similar style but have slightly nicer backdrops), and this is because with this film, Studio Ghibli let it be animated almost entirely by young new animators, which in my opinion I think is great because it gives them fantastic experience early on in their careers without hurting the animation too badly, since I still think it looks great. Moments like the scene with Taku and Yutaka wistfully looking at the sea from the pier is one of my favourite parts of the film. The entire vibe and aesthetic of moments like this and in general the whole movie is part of the reason I like this film so much, which takes me on to my next point. A big theme of this film is definitely nostalgia, and is portrayed through the high school setting and protagonists and that is added to in recent years from the 90s nostalgic anime aesthetic. As a teenage high schooler myself though, I find this film to be more relatable than nostalgic; almost as if I'd probably make the exact same decisions as Taku does in the film. Speaking of Taku, now on to the characters. This is most people's problem with the film as they find Taku and Yutaka boring and Rikako being unlikeable. I personally have no problem with this as all 3 feel like they'd be real characters. Most people in life don't have complicated problems like Rikako does and everyone knows a girl like her. However I do acknowledge and also admit that I think the film would've been better if the relationship between Taku and Yutaka was explored a bit more. They have very good chemistry and it is hinted at very heavily throughout the movie that they may have feelings for each other which is why I wish the ending was a bit more open ended with some possibility of a relationship between Taku and Yutaka. Either that or adding a few more scenes with Rikako acting more positively toward Taku, since near the end he reminisces over his time with Rikako while thinking about her and all of it is her being negative toward him; it's almost comical. Then again, I do suppose in real life end up falling for no clear reason and Rikako probably feels that Taku is the only one who somewhat understood her problems, which is why she was willing to go to Tokyo to find him. Furthermore, many high school relationships are a bit like this since teenagers like Rikako are yet to mature and realise the world doesn't revolve around their problems. It all adds to the realism and relatability of the film in my opinion. But that's pretty much my only problem with it. The story is simple but works wonderfully. It's not trying to be something grand or super deep, it's just a laid back high school love story between 3 people. The score also reflects it perfectly of the mood of the film and the quiet sea side town that it is set in, being calming and nostalgic. One leitmotif from the main theme of the movie "If I could be the Ocean" is repeated often times throughout the film which perhaps reflects the repetitive but nostalgic high school life and the melancholy life of the town Kochi. To finish off the review, I'll recap on the film's main theme: Nostalgia. It looks back to a time where the smallest school melodramas meant the end of the world. Even at the reunion scene at the end you can see people laughing at the things they used to worry about. Even if they were not all always happy and sometimes turbulent, it was still nevertheless a simpler time when their only concern was what others thought of them. This turbulence in the characters teenage years may even reflect the name of the film: Ocean Waves; how life flows back so simply and forth like the waves of an ocean. All in all, Studio Ghibli's most underrated film for sure.

There are times that even having good productive values, if the plot is simple and there is no one talented enough to contribute something to it, the result will be mediocre. Story (3/10): Umi ga Kikoeru is a rather simple and cliche romance movie, there really isn't much to say about the movie since there isn't much to highlight about it at the same time that there isn't any big negative point. We could say that the most negative aspect of the film is precisely the fact that there is not much to comment on since it is one of the many (typical school romance with a protagonist who does not realize that he was deeply fall in love with the girl until the last minute). Outside of that I think the only reason to see this movie are its visuals because if it were not like that, nobody would give a fuck for this movie. Art (8/10) and sound (7/10): As I said before, the visuals are the best aspect of this movie, the backgrounds are beautiful, the animation is fluid, the colors are well chosen, the designs work very well and the music is amazing. Maybe the direction was meh but outside of that the rest is amazing. Character (4/10): I can say that at least the characters are not as archetypal as in other romances of the style, it is not that they are a big deal, but at least they work properly making this a "not so cliche school romance". Enjoyment (3/10): The film was quite boring, simple presentation, slow pacing like almost a large part of the work of this studio (with the difference that the message does not develop much here). Overall (4/10): I am sorry to give this note to this movie since it really is not bad, but it is not good either, it is generic and forgettable.

Ocean Waves feels like a very different type of movie from Studio Ghibli. In a library of films that look back to the magic of childhood, Ocean Waves dared to look forward, to the relative mundanity of adulthood. When I was a kid, Ocean Waves was the film that blew my mind. That tender emphasis on everyday human interactions, that ability to portray the most mundane conflicts, scenes and moments of vulnerability with so much beauty... it touched the heart of the lonely and alienated 10-year-old me, and defined my relationship with cinema thereafter. It's not god tier, but it doesn't have to be. It's just enough and that makes me happy. That scene at the breakwater really hit something deep within me.

First of all i would like to say english it's not my first language but i'm not gonna correct myself especially not for a stupid movie like this one , so sorry for your eyes and enjoy this review . (NO SPOILER ) So many positives review with no arguments on how this movie is actually good , guess why ? I'll give you the answer this movie is fucking trash , i wanted to watch it because i was having a really bad day but this movie has just ruined the small amount of joy i had left in myself . Story 3/10 : Inexistant ? What's the point of this movie ? I don't know and probably will never know Characters 1/10 : FUCK the main girl character, , it was just a pain in the ass watching her , i was wishing her to die during the whole movie , she's just a bitch and for no specific reasons ! Actually maybe one , her parents are divorced , and it's well know every child with divorced parents are growing up to be the worst person to ever exist . She's a manipulative liar and a spoiled kid who only cares about herself . (Maybe we could have sympathized with her with a better writing . ) The only interesting thing was the relationship between the two male friend and they don't even explore it that much ( by the way both of them must be masochist or into some pain pleasures ) Art 7/10: It was ok , all the characters kinda looked the same to me , but it was still a pretty movie to watch Sound 5/10 : Not memorable but still ok i guess Overall : 4/10 : DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE it's not even worthy to waste any humain being time , i won't even recommand it to my worst ennemy .

Ocean Waves was the first Studio Ghibli movie to not be directed by Miyazaki or Takahata and is not your standard Ghibli fare; it lacks the imaginative fantasy of the former and the emotional gravity of the latter, instead opting for a more nuanced and reflective experience over its brief 72 minute runtime. The story begins with Taku taking a flight back to his hometown to attend his high school reunion and proceeds to reflect on his final year when he befriended Yutaka and first met Rikako, a girl who has relocated from Tokyo and takes an immediate disliking to her new surroundings. What follows is a series of flashbacks narrated by Taku of his encounters with her. Despite the high production qualities which one would expect of a Ghibli film, Ocean Waves is severely lacking in plot and character development. Although Taku is the main protagonist and narrator for the film, he has very little characterisation and acts almost as a passive observer in his own life, whilst Rikako is someone who immediately comes across as manipulative and unpleasant with some of her earlier interactions. Rikako also appears at a glance to be the only one with some kind of arc; we learn why she is the way she is, but this doesn't excuse her treatment of the other characters, and the sympathy that we are meant to feel is inherently expected and not genuinely earned. The plot is simply a sequence of events that can be described as boy-meets-girl, friend-falls-in-love-with-girl, girl-rejects-friend, boy-is-forced-along-on-a-trip-to-Tokyo and... I think you get the general idea. Things happen and then nothing follows. Everything feels contrived, even the ending - and considering the conflict between the protagonists the ending feels almost ridiculous in its sudden realisation. Taku is supposed to be spending his flight reflecting but never has any sudden revelations or epiphanies; he simply explains the events that happened and that's it. Yet despite the obvious issues with the film, I can't help but think about its charm; this is a slow, quiet, thoughtful movie. This isn't a lost Ghibli classic at all, but it has a certain charm. In life all we can do is look back passively at the events that took place, we cannot change them but that's not where our stories end. Maybe that is the true purpose of this film (probably not, but it won't stop me from watching it again).

all i'm gonna say about this is 1) it was decent in terms of slice-of-life and is pretty aimless, so if you're bored and want something to watch, it's watchable in that aspect. 2) the female lead is irritating and the male lead is absolutely clueless so it gets more than frustrating at times. 3) this would've had a lot more potential had the movie delved into the friendship between the male lead and his best friend, who had more blatant romantic tension surrounding them. of course, this is ghibli and 1993 japan we're talking about here but it would've been pretty interesting to his friend confess to him during that ocean scene, and then have him realise who was actually worth all the fawning over. it rolls along painfully slow, as well so do what you will with this one.

*Sigh...* This movie...after seeing a video about it on YouTube, I ultimately decided to give it a watch...here's my thoughts: Story: Not great, but not hot garbage either, it's a typical drama story with high-school kids growing up and becoming adults and all that jazz. It's kind of a scattered here and there though and at times the story doesn't feel like it's there at all, which isn't something you want your movie's story to do...very meh. Art/Visuals: C'mon, it's a Studio Ghibli movie, OF COURSE IT'S GONNA LOOK NICE! Character designs are distinct and appealing, environments and animation are colorful and smooth looking, it's got it's bells and whistles at least in that deparment. Sound: Voice-acting is okay, nothing spectacular, but everyone's voices are all good (I swoon for Taku and Yukata's voices though, ngl). Good soundtrack too, each song fits in well with its scenes and doesn't feel out of place (if you've seen the movie you can guess what my favorite track is.) Characters: ...I've been dreading this part of the review...where do I begin? So, this is gonna be subjective to me (I do have a THING for Boy x Boy kinda dynamics, so this next sentence is gonna sound very...fudanshi-esque.) So, the relationship between Taku and Yutaka is GREAT, by far the best thing about the movie...at least in terms of things in-context TO the movie. What's NOT good is Rikako...who RUINS the movie...she's a jerk, her relationships with other characters are either just explained through gossip (other characters), and the scenes with her are just plain frustrating. If she wasn't so unlikeable, I LEGIT would've given this movie a 7, but...it's a 6. Basically, all the other characters are fine except Rikako, can't stand her. Overall: While I don't ADORE this movie to no end a very few select people do, I don't despise it like most do. It's not a perfect movie, but it ain't the worst thing in the world either. It's just a shame that this movie came out like this because I feel like with a bit more time, rewriting, and money, we could've had a FANTASTIC movie. But as it is...it's ok. I really just wanted to see how...BL thing would get and it didn't go anywhere, that's just me expecting too much. I guess if you're into dramas, Ghibli movies, or you just wanna kill some time, go for it.

How to start with this Masterpiece? Ok, maybe the first thing to do is to clear out why i think this film is a Masterpiece and why it has a 6.65 score in MAL. The movie is ambiguous, as real as life is, slow paced and plain. It doesnt have an exciting moment, a roller coaster of emotions nor a devourer climax, but the nostalgic factor is KEY, acompanied by the sensitive touch of its audiovisual artwork, making it a hidden gem worth to appreciate. Its duration its confusing, as it lasts 1 hr. 12 minutes, but it seems you experienced a whole coming of age. RECOMMENDATIONS: I recommend watching this film to all those who enjoy Slice of Life, Coming of age and nostalgic movies. -Tteeoo

It's a little hard to get behind its plot and characters. On on ehand, these characters are probably the weakest aspect of the movie and they can be a bit unlikeable at times, which is odd for Studio Ghibli. On the other hand, having a Ghibli movie with this kind of protagonist feels like a breath of fresh air. Something about how flawed and human they feel. There's a lot of charm to how mundane the film feels. Like you're just watching real people do stupid stuff becuase they're young and don't know any better. I really like that. It being a Studio Ghibli film, looks absolutely beautiul. The colors are soft and the shots of city, alleys and schools accentuate the mundane tone, which as I already said, I don't see as a bad thing, but I understand if some viewers won't be satisfied with it.

I guess the point of this movie is supposed to be that as we grow up, we have interactions with each other that are awkward and melodramatic and which can end badly, because we're unable to be honest about our feelings or considerate about the feelings of others. And once we grow up, we can revisit those feelings and realise what motivated the way we behaved when we were younger. But I think there are probably better ways to express that idea than by writing a story where a girl who is impossible to like (seemingly on purpose) jerks around the nice, kind, totally normal protagonist for 40 minutes, only for us to find out that they were really in love the whole time once they have a post-high school reunion. At least it looks nice.

This is not a Ghibli-kind movie, yet without fantasy it's still a good movie. To sum up, the story is a good slice of life and has a good romance drama, with characters with logical problems, it's well directed, has good art and photography, good sound.. but I have some problems with the movie: 1) The main character has a best friend; the story tells how they became friends and that's cool, but then a girl appears and they both fell in love with the girl but this is a mishandled problem by the movie, with a confusing and completely needless, the best friend. 2) The girl isn´t that beauty like all the people in the movie says.. well i say that because it's pretty much the same as the other ghibli girls... 3) The story has a toxic message of love: This girl isn't kind with the boy, she has very human problems but also uses him, slaps him and ignore him and never says sorry BUT he is IN LOVE. why? After saying that, maybe you can tell that the story tries to give the message that you don´t have to fight with a friend for a girl? Its a good movie and in only an hour has a big development but Im not sure about that message. Pros and cons, its maybe an 8. Not the worst ghibli movie neither the best but very enjoyable. Sayonnara

Today I watched yet another one of those God knows how many underrated gems I haven't watched due to their low scores. This is a Studio Ghibli made movie that I had almost never heard of before. But just the other day I came across a list of must watched anime movies which had this one in it. I told myself, "Ok that's kinda odd. What is this one about? Is it really any good?" And gave it a blind watch. Here are some thoughts. The first few minutes of the clip hit me hard with visually pleasing art. No, there's no dazzle in it like most of today's anime. It's the old school realistic sketchwork kinda vibe, which I probably like better. The character design, the body proportion, the objects are realistic and drawn beautifully. So it instantly got my attention. The setting wasn't too bad either. It's college romance. It's nothing special. The story is nothing that will stay in your mind forever. But you know, if the anime delivers well and just does what it tries it do properly, then a mediocre story isn't a big obstacle. And that's exactly what it did. It doesn't try too hard to stand out. It just tells the story in a pleasant way. By far the best part if the movie was it's characters. They are realistic and you feel easily connected with them. They act their age for a change. Some of the viewers may not like the main heroine, but I thought she acted like a normal girl. Sometimes a touch of realism and elegance can go a long way to make a mediocre setting into a good one. And to top it off, the ending was masterful. Overall, it's not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination. But I will confidently say that it is a good romantic movie that does what it should do very well. Watch it with a calm mind, try to connect with the characters (which should come naturally tho), and you will like it. MAL score - 6.79 Personal score - 8

This movie was fascinating. The main characters, Taku and Rikako, are both flawed, somewhat impulsive, and slightly wrong in the way they handle things. Rikako is selfish, as she painfully tries to work through her parents divorce. Taku, understandably, wavers between getting fed up with her and sympathizing with her. He's a naturally kind person, but that kindness will only go so far. In youth, sometimes it's hard to understand or see other people's perceptions because you're so caught up in your own feelings. I think Ocean Waves captures this perfectly. The movie's plot is essentially high school drama, but watching how these characters deal with the drama was interesting, unexpected and realistic. At times, you hate these characters and at other times, you understand them. I think the films provides a realistic portray of teenagers. It's not a masterpiece, but I don't think it's as terrible as some say either. Ocean Waves is about how in our youth, we get so caught up in things and at the time, they seem justifiable. Looking back, they seem like nothing. It provides a space for nostalgia, and captures the fun in getting caught up in the moment; even if two people are completely uncompatiable at the time.