Plunging Into “Float”: A Heartfelt Tale of Love, Culture, and Self-Discovery
Float is a Canadian romantic drama directed by Sherren Lee in 2023 that deftly explores self-identity, family values, and tumultuous love from a young age. An adaptation of the Wattpad novel written by Kate Marchant, this coming-of-age tale paints bittersweet life struggles that people face while embracing adulthood.
A Story Rooted in Culture and Growth
Weaving Waverly Liu’s story which is brilliantly played by Andrea Bang takes the audience inside the battle of self-ambition and familial expectation. Her immigrant parents from Taiwan wish to see her in a medicine career which overwhelms her. As a solution, she goes to her serene beach town holding aunt, inspired by Tofino, British Columbia, during her summer break before university.
In Holden, Waverly meets Blake Hamilton, a lifeguard (Robbie Amell) who, while attending a beach party, spectacularly saves her life. Their first meeting during the rescue tuned her gratitude in the summers to come. The gratitude deepens as Blake starts teaching Waverly how to swim. The lessons turn into romance, yet, Blake and Waverly’s lives began casting shadows on their relationship.
Meaning That Evokes Emotion
The film incorporates a few poignant themes that add depth to the plot.
Empowerment: For Waverly, a summer spent away from home is a chance at finding her own voice, far removed from the expectations set by her family.
Multiculturalism: The movie effectively deals with the reality of an immigrant family trying to preserve cultural values and foster uniqueness.
First Romance: The affection Waverly and Blake share for each other is warm, yet it is intertwined with the dilemmas of frang adulthood.
Change of Life: The film portrays the distinct challenges and opportunities that life presents when growing older, in a bittersweet manner.
Cast and Crew
The depth the story is supposed to portray is delivered by Sherren Lee’s direction, which is also aided by a strong supporting cast that features:
Andrea Bang in the role of Waverly Liu
Robbie Amell for the character of Blake Hamilton
Sarah Desjardins
Rukiya Bernard
Michelle Krusiec
Andrew Bachelor
The storyline of the film written by Sherren Lee and Jesse LaVercombe is based on Marchant’s work, and it incorporates a few cultural aspects.
Critical Reception
Float is a film that has managed to generate a lot of controversy, and with an unimpressive IMDb rating of 5.3/10, their reviews tend to fall on both ends of the spectrum. Some point out the cliches that are present in the story and others highlight the tear filled plots and cultural relevancy to the world.
The film is a great blend of warmth and charm and the chemistry between Bang and Amell is commendable. The Vulture hails Float as one of the best adaptations from Wattpad saying that it brilliantly captures the cultural nuances and themes.
Bringing a Wattpad Boom to Life
Float is one of the many stories that have made the transition from a Wattpad written story to a movie. The novel became a sensation and Marchant’s brings it to life within this adaptation. Lee and LaVercombe wish to stay true to the heart of the material but are tasked with crafting it into a wider cinematic narrative.
Where to Watch
Float began streaming on Tubi in late 2024, allowing fans of romance dramas easy access to the film who wish to enjoy it from the comfort of their own homes.
Final Thoughts
Float tells a story that will resonate with anyone trying to understand young love and family expectations. The film does touch on aspects of the romance genre, but what sets it apart is how it treads deeper into cultural elements and deeply crafted characters. Anyone interested in the coming of age stories in film that depict themes of passion, identity and growth will surely find Float relatable and moving.
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