Tidal poster
#36664 This Week

Tidal

Tidal  ·  2017, Taiwan
5.8
2,010 ratings
1
Film
0
Watchlisted
● Completed 🕑 2017

Ocean, a boy who was born and raised on a small island, has a taboo relationship with Tide, a sailor whose ship regularly docks at the harbour. (Source: Queer East)

Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Episodes
Reviews (5)

Set against the rugged, windswept beauty of a remote Taiwanese island, *Tidal* is a poignant short film that captures the bittersweet ache of a forbidden love. Ocean, a quiet young man who has spent his entire life on the island, finds his world shaken with every visit from Tide, a handsome sailor whose ship docks at the small harbor. Their connection is immediate and electric—a secret woven from stolen glances, gentle touches, and the quiet intimacy of shared moments. But their love is fractured by a painful truth: Tide is married, with a child waiting on the mainland. As the waves crash against the shore, Ocean and Tide navigate the impossible pull between passion and guilt, freedom and obligation. *Tidal* is a masterclass in emotional restraint, using the breathtaking coastal landscape as a mirror for the characters' inner turmoil. This isn't a story of grand gestures, but of the small, aching silences and whispered confessions that define a love that can never fully surface. A deeply moving, sun-drenched meditation on longing, sacrifice, and the cost of keeping a heart afloat.

Li Yan Xun photo
Li Yan Xun
Cast
RO
Romance
Cast
SF
Short Film
Cast

Episode data is coming soon.

5.8
out of 10
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ID
island_dreamer_88
Jan 15, 2025
8/10
I'm a sucker for raw, natural romance, and *Tidal* delivered exactly that. The way Ocean and Tide touch each other—without pretense, without drama—felt so real. The beach setting stole my heart. Yes, the story is simple, but sometimes simplicity is all you need for a good cry. Gorgeous film.
PP
plot_police
Mar 22, 2025
5/10
I get the appeal of the intimacy, but let's be honest—the story is barely there. We have a married man and his secret lover, and the conflict is resolved in the most predictable way possible (he ends it). For a short film, it's fine, but I wanted more depth. The acting saves it from being a complete miss.
VP
visual_poetry_lover
Jul 10, 2025
7/10
The cinematography is absolutely stunning. Every shot of the ocean, the golden hour light on their faces, the way the camera lingers on their intertwined fingers—it's a visual feast. The story is simple, but the director's eye for composition makes it worth watching. I just wish the music had been as memorable as the images.
CM
consent_matters_now
Sep 5, 2025
6/10
There's a lot to unpack here regarding consent and honesty. Tide is clearly hiding his marriage from Ocean for a long time, which raises red flags about informed consent. The film doesn't judge, but as a viewer I felt uncomfortable with that power dynamic. Still, the performances are heartfelt, and the ending feels honest rather than romanticized.
MM
moody_melodies
Dec 2, 2024
5/10
I'm a soundtrack person, and unfortunately *Tidal* doesn't offer much. The background score is typical—ambient, forgettable. It doesn't elevate the emotional moments the way a great OST does. The film relies entirely on the actors and visuals. That's fine, but for me, music makes or breaks a mood piece, and here it fell flat.