Nguyen Debuts 'In Waves' at Cannes Critics’ Week
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- Phuong Mai Nguyen opens Cannes Critics’ Week with the animated film “In Waves,” based on AJ Dungo’s graphic novel about a shy teen who falls in love with a surfer named Kristen.
- In Waves is dedicated to Kristen, the real‑life girl who was gravely ill, and incorporates Dungo’s drawings to honor her memory.
- Nguyen says she was initially intimidated by the personal nature of the story but felt a connection through shared Asian immigrant backgrounds with AJ Dungo.
- In Waves was animated digitally without AI, with water rendered as a character, and features voice performances by Stephanie Hsu and Will Sharpe.
- Nguyen studied animation at Les Gobelins and La Poudrière in France, inspired by the film “Spirited Away” to pursue animation.
Why it matters: The film’s Cannes debut shines a spotlight on Asian‑American storytelling and the graphic‑novel source, giving the creators exposure and honoring Kristen’s memory.
