Not Waving but Drowning

This 2012 American drama film, directed by Devyn Waitt, serves as a feature-length companion to the short film "The Most Girl Part of You" (2011) and draws inspiration from the poem of the same name by English poet Stevie Smith. The narrative follows Adele (Vanessa Ray), a young woman who leaves her small hometown to pursue new opportunities in New York City. Her best friend, Sara (Megan Guinan), remains behind, marking the first time the two have been separated. The film delves into their individual journeys as they navigate new environments: Adele confronts the challenges of urban life, forms new relationships—including with a character named Adam (Adam Driver)—and seeks her place in an unfamiliar world, while Sara finds employment at a nursing home and develops a bond with an elderly woman named Sylvia (Lynn Cohen). Through parallel storytelling, the film explores themes of loneliness, coming of age, loss, and the search for identity, accentuating the protagonists' emotional experiences with evocative musical interludes and atmospheric cinematography.