Films That Feel Like Summer
Summer always seems to make even the most mundane moments romantic. As the weather gets warmer and the days grow longer, we naturally spend more time outside, relaxing and engaging in spirited conversation. The sun sparks our desire for adventure and renews our enthusiasm for life. Suddenly, we want to travel to new places, meet new people and try new things. It's as though the sun revitalises our sense of purpose. Anything feels possible.
It's through film that we can experience the atmosphere of summer, whether that is in the humid streets of New York, the meadow-lined countryside of Italy or by the sea where the water stretches for miles. Here, summer presents itself unabashedly through brief connections, ever-present political tensions, quiet moments with the ones you love and intense moments of solitude.
Against the backdrop of sun, solitude and bliss, these films invite us into the season of summer, where every emotion feels elevated.
Call Me By Your Name (2017)
Call Me By Your Name (2017)
Directed by Luca Guadagnino, Call Me By Your Name takes place during the summer of 1983 against the backdrop of a stately Italian villa in Crema, Northern Italy. The story follows 17 year old Elio and his connection with his fathers 24 year old graduate student, Oliver. This coming-of-age romance explores the overwhelming feelings of first love and the ever-present longing that unfolds over a slow-paced summer. The poignant soundtrack by Sufjan Stevens beautifully emphasises this aching desire. Call Me By Your Name captures a summer of immersive family gatherings, readings of old literature, fresh peach juice, night-time parties, transcribing music, intellectually stimulating conversation and quiet longing.
Do The Right Thing (1989)
Do The Right Thing (1989)
The iconic 1989 Spike Lee joint Do The Right Thing takes place in 1980s Brooklyn, in a divided neighbourhood where racial tensions and community conflict simmer beneath the surface on the hottest day of the year. Temperatures rise alongside frustration and division, offering a vibrant portrait of life in New York during a sweat-drenched summer. This film is filled with dynamic visuals, colours, unreal dance scenes and music that wholly represents the spirit of the urban landscape during summer. There is cooling off beneath fire hydrants, celebrations of African American culture and a determination to fight for what you believe in. If you're spending the summer in a bustling city, few films capture its intensity better than Do The Right Thing.
The Talented Mr Ripley (1999)
The Talented Mr Ripley (1999)
Set in 1950s Italy, The Talented Mr Ripley,directed by Anthony Minghella, tells the story of cunning New York con artist Tom Ripley, who travels to Italy to bring home the rebellious son of a wealthy businessman. There, he becomes immersed in Dickie Greenleaf's lavish lifestyle, spending long days lounging in the sun, taking boat trips, riding mopeds and dining along the Italian coast. It's a stylish, sun-soaked thriller drenched in old-money glamour, linen shirts and endless summer afternoons. Beneath its idyllic surface lies deceit and obsession, making the film one of cinema's most seductive depictions of summer escapism.
American Honey (2016)
American Honey (2016)
Life in the American Midwest is the opposite of lavish for 18-year-old Star. Directed by Andrea Arnold, American Honey tells the story of an impoverished and neglected teenager who, after escaping a life of abuse, joins the road with a crew of thrill-seeking youths making their way across the United States selling door-to-door magazine subscriptions. It's bleak, gritty and deeply authentic, serving as a meditation on poverty, youth, and the search for freedom. Although far from glamorous, relationships are forged, boundaries are tested and new experiences are had. Set against the expansive Midwest roads, humid summer skies and nights spent dancing at dingy motels, it captures the rebellious, liberating spirit of youth that many of us longed for as teenagers.
La Piscine (1969)
La Piscine (1969)
It's the height of summer on the French Riviera, where a romantic couple’s tranquil villa holiday is soon disrupted by the arrival of the woman's former lover and his teenage daughter. An icon of French cinema directed by Jacques Deray, La Piscine is a stylish tale of sexual jealousy and possessiveness that is only elevated by the scorching Mediterranean sun. The smouldering chemistry between its characters makes for an intoxicating watch, while its postcard-perfect aesthetic and fresh, inviting colour palette evoke the dream of a Riviera summer. It perfectly captures the heightened emotions of romance and lust that often emerge during long, languid days spent in the sun.
The Green Ray (1986)
The Green Ray (1986)
When you find yourself alone during the summer, serendipity can create magic. Eric Rohmer's 1980s summer classic follows Delphine, a young Parisian woman struggling to find her place in the world. After a series of disappointing holiday arrangements, she finds herself more isolated than ever, and thus embarks on a journey that ultimately leads to an unexpected connection. Drifting between beaches, conversations and moments of reflection, the film offers an intimate portrait of loneliness and self discovery. Bathed in natural light and muted pastel tones, The Green Ray reminds us that even the most solitary summers can have their moments of wonder.
Summertime (1955)
Summertime (1955)
Venice in the 1950s summertime sounds like a dream. Directed by David Lean, Summertime follows a middle-aged American secretary who saves for years to visit her dream destination, Venice. Being alone and somewhat self conscious, she soon becomes swept up in the sensuous romance of the city, and encounters a charming Italian man who challenges her perceptions of love, loneliness and herself. This is a story about finding oneself through travel. It's often in the most beautiful locations that we feel most intensely about our lives. With music drifting along the canals, elegant 1950s fashion, luminous sunsets and a dreamlike technicolour palette, this film philosophises the idea that one should cherish the temporary connections that life offers and accept them for what they are in the moment.
The spirit of summer runs vividly through each of these films, revealing the season as one of love, melancholy, connection, self-discovery and adventure. In cinema, summer becomes a backdrop for transformation, a time when emotions run hotter and life feels suspended between possibility and reality.