Summer Hours is a gently paced movie that tells the story of three adult siblings, Adrienne, Frédéric and Jérémie who have grown apart. Adrienne has moved to New York to pursue a career as an artist while Jérémie has moved to China to work for Puma while Frédéric remains in France. They reunite occasionally for family gatherings at their mother’s home just outside of Paris and this is where the film opens; with lavish shots of the beautiful house which is full of artwork by their mother’s deceased uncle, a celebrated artist whose legacy hangs over the family.
When their mother dies, the siblings have a disagreement over what to do with the house. They are sentimentally attached to it but considering their own welfare and the fact they live overseas, Adrienne and Jérémie want to sell the house and some of the works while Frédéric really wants to keep it (not surprising, even I became attached to the bloody house with the way it was filmed).
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Summer Hours is one of those considered family dramas that the French occasionally excel at. This doesn’t really stand out as an excellent example of the genre, in fairness, but there’s something about the relationships and the family dynamics that feels very real and that authenticity makes the film and the way it plays out all the more interesting.
The film also has something to say about the detachment of modern France from its traditions and cultural heritage and betrays a concern that a new generation is going to lose touch with their rich cultural history and identity. an idea reinforced by the interesting final scene which shows an even younger generation having a party at the house before it’s sold and showing scant regard for the weight of tradition that the house holds. They’re not entirely disrespectful of it but it’s treated as a venue rather than a place with a colourful history of its own. These concerns are perhaps a little trite but thankfully they’re not overwrought and the film’s subtlety – from performances to characterisation to direction by Olivier Assayas – is its strength.
Summer Hours opens in limited release in Australia on the 2nd of April. Click here to search for session times in your area.
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