Overview
- The animated feature, which premiered Wednesday as the Critics’ Week opener, drew praise for its hand-drawn look and voice performances.
- Directed by Phuong Mai Nguyen and adapted from AJ Dungo’s graphic memoir, the film blends multiple timelines and shifting visual styles.
- Reviews note black-and-white passages on surfing’s Hawaiian roots that intercut with a Southern California coming-of-age romance.
- Several critics fault the storytelling as familiar and sentimental, while others say the emotion lands and the craft feels cohesive.
- The film is seeking U.S. distribution on the festival market, with Will Sharpe and Stephanie Hsu leading the English-language voice cast.