It Comes in Waves
directed by
Toronto Premiere
Fitch Jean
After tragedy strikes their family, Rwandan refugee Akai becomes the sole caretaker for his younger sister Zera. As mounting pressures threaten to tear them apart, Akai must navigate impossible choices to keep them together. A powerful story about family, resilience, and the lengths we'll go to protect those we love.
Programmer's Notes
After escaping the Rwandan genocide, a family of four hopes for a better life in Canada, but are haunted by their traumatic past.
Akai (Adrian Walters) escapes home homeland, but not before witnessing a horrendous act of violence that leaves him mentally scarred. A promising track star who diligently works at a local variety store, Akai is a good kid with a bright future. Until tragedy strikes once again. With no real plan and a limited support system, Akai is forced to do whatever it takes to keep his family together.
Fitch Jean was born in Haiti and clearly feels a kinship with the Rwandan community. He approaches his storytelling with a delicate touch and uncommon visual panache. It Comes in Waves is full of compelling performances from a superb cast and anchored by Walters, who shines as a sensitive young man consumed by a past that refuses to stay buried. This is world-class work from an undeniable filmmaker with a bright future. It’s challenging at times, but you won’t want to miss this.
- Richard Pierre
Cast
Adrian Walters, Nendia Lewars, Olunike Adeliyi, Ryan Rosery
About the Director
Haitian-Canadian filmmaker Fitch Jean evolved from music and photography to direct films such as Forgive Me Father (2019) that illuminate underrepresented communities, address mental health and trauma—earning recognition in over 50 film festivals and 7 awards. Fitch's work, including the 2025 CBC documentary, Bridging the Gap: Legacy in Harmony, aims to amplify marginalized voices and foster unity through authentic storytelling