When waves break

When Waves Break is a short French film about fighting against the vicious circle of repeating our parents’ mistakes. Direction: Cynita Taylor. Shot in The Netherlands. Starring Amelie Onzon.

The Vision: How does a space reflect the weight of family history? For When Waves Break, a short film directed by Cynita Taylor, I was tasked with creating an environment that captured the cyclical nature of inherited mistakes and the struggle for personal liberation.

The Narrative: I drew heavy inspiration from 1980s realism to ground the film’s narrative in a specific, gritty emotionality. My art direction focused on the “lived-in” detail, selecting textures and colors that suggest a history of repetition and stagnation. I designed the set to feel both intimate and slightly claustrophobic, mirroring the protagonist’s internal battle against the patterns of the past. It was about creating a domestic space that felt less like a home and more like an archive of memory.

The Result: A visual atmosphere that breathes alongside the actors. By balancing ’80s nostalgia with a raw, realistic aesthetic, I helped build a world where the surroundings tell as much of the story as the script itself.