A meditation on trauma and making human connections
He’s angry. Every interaction, every word is dripping with rage. The Guy at the center of Wade in the Water might never reveal his name but his inner turmoil is on grand display.
Directed by Mark Wilson with a script by Chris Retts, Wade in the Water tells the tale of two people caught up in a history of hurt and pain, seemingly unable to move past it into a happier future.
The story kicks off with a happenstance that happens to set off a dark chain of events. The Guy (Tom E. Nicholson) brings home his normal slew of mail only to find he has accidentally received a strange package. Inside is a CD, which happens to be filled with child pornography.
After overcoming the initial shock, he tracks down its rightful recipient, a former pastor accused of numerous sexual violations of children. It’s too much for The Guy to deal with, and things go south quickly.
Before long, he finds himself interacting with Tilly (Danika Golombek), the pastor’s daughter. The two have little in common but a lot to talk about. Their burgeoning relationship–as odd as it might be–is the true heart of this story.
This small film features a lot a great touches. The Guy watches old westerns and romances in his tawdry apartment. He only listens to Gospel and Christian music because its all he’s ever known. And the reoccurring scenes at “Chef Burger” are such pure Valley fare that Los Angelinos probably won’t be able to help feeling snobby from the sight of the place.
Wade in the Water lives and dies on the performances of its two leads, who are stellar throughout. The subject matter is tough but is dealt with every step of the way with sensitivity and grace, no small feat for any movie.