Film Review: Ride Your Wave (2019)

Review

Ride Your Wave is a animated film described as a romantic fantasy, and is directed by Masaaki Yuasa. It marks my first review of a Japanese animated film, and the first that I have watched in a very long time. The film focuses on Hinako, a young girl with a real passion and love for the ocean and surfing, indeed always keeping an eye out for good days and good waves, using her bike to transport her trusty childhood surfboard to the beach for some sun, sand and surf.

Unbeknownst to Hinako, she happens to have two admirers who seem to have noticed her beach going routine and become quite impressed by the dedication and passion she shows for the hobby she loves. The two onlookers are firefighters who occupy themselves with the demands of their own profession, not knowing their paths will eventually go on to cross with hers when a group of youngsters cause an unintentional fire in the apartment block where Hinako happens to stay.As the building burns, Hinako, in her panic, takes off to the roof with her surfboard in hand, and is rescued by Minato, one of the aforementioned young and handsome firefighters familiar with her surfing exploits from a distance. This serendipitous meeting grows into something more, as the two go on to surf together, enjoy good food and coffee, sing karaoke and generally do other activities that develops them into a loving couple. Happiness abounds and all is right in the world, until it isn't, for as Minato one day decides to practise his surfing in an attempt to further impress his girlfriend, he suffers and accident at sea in an attempt to rescue someone else in need, resulting in his unexpected passing.

The sudden tragic event leaves a large hole in Hinako's life, leading her to abandon everything that would remind her of the man she loved. Curiously enough though, something strange starts to happen every time she sings a particular song that the couple both loved. As doubt turns closer to certainty, she comes to realise that singing the song causes Minato to appear in any body of water close by, and interact with her personally. The couple have a second chance at their relationship, albeit in a tremendously odd way, and go on to pick up where they left off before the tragic accident. But as time passes the inevitable realisation of the unsustainability of the relationship becomes apparent. Both characters hold each other back in different ways, riding, as Minato would say, the same wave together when really the two must stand on their own two feet and move on to the next one. This is the primary sentiment of the film as both attempt to come to grips with their respective emotions and attachments.

Ride Your Wave is a film that seemed to have had all the right pieces for a good film but came up way short on the execution. The pacing of the film felt erratic as things progressed in a way that made it very difficult to come to grips with the individual scenes and characters. This made it hard to really connect with any of them and develop a true sense of empathy for their respective journeys. Even Minato's death lacked any sense of finality or true shock, and the main character simply felt strange and unrelatable. It felt as if no genuine rapport was crafted between any of the characters, the only exception, perhaps, being Minato's tough younger sister and her selected interactions. I thought the surfing and the ocean as a whole would have provided the focal focal point for the use of metaphor, the ocean displaying its temperamental nature and uncaring character with regards to the desires and wills of all that would request to ride it. Both viciously beautiful yet tremendously dangerous, the ocean could have provided great themes to drive the message of life home, and yet it was mostly pushed to the periphery throughout. I thought the song used to call on Minato was uninspired and just plain irritating for the most part, failing to provide the heart wrenching effect that comes from watching someone desperately try to hold on to the bond that ties them to someone special.

I really wanted to like this movie and I certainly did have high expectations which is always dangerous, but in the end there was just not a good capitalization on what was otherwise a good premise. I really thought that there was a deep well of symbolism to be drawn from with regards to the craft of surfing and the ocean as a whole, and yet it seems that it just went wanting or was otherwise used in an uninspired way. The film does boast some beautiful and sleek animation, and had a few good moments, but it just wasn't enough to create a lasting impression in the end. Sadly, I would recommend that you look elsewhere for a good anime film but also recommend you decide for yourself. As always, happy viewing :).

Score: 4/10