Rising Tide, A2015

Director
Ben Hickernell

Actors

Hunter Parrish (Sam Rama)
Ashley Hinshaw (Sarah Bell)
Tim Daly (Tom Blake)
Jonathan Togo (Roger Bell)
Nana Visitor (Eva Rama)
Victor Slezak (Alek Rama)

After the destruction of his family’s well-established Atlantic City restaurant during Hurricane Sandy, a young chef must grow up quickly, taking the biggest risks of his life, both in business and love.

Sam is rather reluctantly employed at his family’s longtime Atlantic City eatery, where his innovative ideas clash with the traditionalist leanings of his father, Alek, who insists they stick with the East Coast “comfort food” that sells. Still, Sam has little choice in the matter, having tried and failed to sustain his own nouveau-cuisine joint in hyper-expensive Manhattan. Blase about weather warnings that ultimately always seem exaggerated, he pays little heed to the reports that “Frankenstorm” Sandy is a serious threat. So, he and various friends are busy partying when the waters rise to breach the sandbags, flooding the restaurant. Alek blames his son’s carelessness for the extent of the damage, and while the business does reopen, it eventually becomes clear that the financial toll of the repairs has been catastrophic. Sam finds a potentially powerful ally in wealthy, widowed venture capitalist Tom, and a nemesis in sleazily ambitious loan officer Roger, whose unhappy wife, Sarah, he befriends…

“While there’s a formulaic feel to some of it, the formula does work in this engaging feature from writer-director Ben Hickernell, aided by the conviction that the solid cast brings to the material. Result is a good bet for fests on the hunt for upbeat, inspirational fare.” – Variety

“This film serves up a slice of life in the aftermath of one of the largest natural disasters of the decade.” – The Daily UW

“Well-acted and involving.” – We Are Movie Geeks