Caught by a Wave Parent Guide

At a summer sailing camp in Sicily, Sara (Elvira Camarrone) and Lorenzo (Christian Roberto) find themselves falling in love. As their relationship deepens, Sara struggles to keep a secret from Lorenzo: she has degenerative muscular dystrophy, which will eventually kill her. With her health deteriorating, Sara must decide what to do with her remaining time.

Have you ever spent an hour watching a movie, only to realize that nothing has happened in that time? That’s what watching Caught by a Wave is like. There are some major structural problems here. The first act, where Sara and Lorenzo meet and get together, is approximately 10 minutes long. With minimal build up to their relationship, it’s hard for viewers to feel any connection to the young couple or any investment in their relationship. The second act, which sees the duo spending time together as Sara’s health falters is approximately an hour long. The third act, where Sara makes a big decision about her life and there’s a climactic event, is also about 10 minutes long. The middle is so long and so boring and so uneventful I just can’t fathom how anyone approved this cut. Surely, director Massimiliano Camaiti could have taken pacing into consideration and edited accordingly so this movie could have enjoyed an actual story structure.

As if the structural problems aren’t enough, the two leads have zero chemistry. I don’t believe that they’re in love for a second. That’s not to say that they aren’t decent actors; they are. Unfortunately, there’s no discernible spark between them to convince the audience that they’re in a relationship. At no point does the story give us a reason for them to be together in the first place. We literally see them kiss within the first 10 minutes. Why do they like each other? It’s a mystery. By the end of the film Sara gets somewhat fleshed out as a character, but Lorenzo is left sadly flat and underdeveloped.

Since this story is aimed at teens, it’s worth discussing the content issues in some detail. Both adults and teens are seen smoking cigarettes at various points, and adults give teens alcohol during meals. I should point out that this is an Italian film, so it’s not a surprise that characters embrace Italy’s much more liberal attitudes towards alcohol consumption. If you decide that this movie is a good fit for your teens, this could provide an opportunity to discuss cultural attitudes to alcohol and smoking in the context of your own family’s beliefs. Drugs also come into the picture when a teenager takes an unknown drug at a club. Thankfully, this choice carries stiff consequences, with the boy kicked out of his sailing club and barred from the regatta he had trained for. Along with the substance use, it is subtly implied that Sara and Lorenzo have sex, but it is not obvious and never explicitly stated. As they are kissing at one point, Lorenzo asks, “Are you sure?” and Sara says yes. The scene cuts away soon after, so there is no sexual activity seen. A relatively naïve viewer might miss the implication entirely.

The movie is originally filmed in Italian, but Netflix has it dubbed in multiple languages including English. I watched about half in the original Italian with English subtitles and the other half with English dubbing, and both were perfectly watchable. In this case, it’s just a matter of personal preference.

Overall, Caught by a Wave is an average teen romance, but its structural issues and underdeveloped characters make it boring and forgettable. The Italian seaside vistas are stunning, but that’s not enough to save this devastatingly mediocre production.