Summer

2008

1 hr. 23 min.

Drama

List

78%

9 Reviews

Tomatometer

62%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

A man full of promise struggles to fix his life.

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Critics Consensus

Strong sensitive performances in this low-budget British drama illuminate this tough gritty picture.

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Audience Member

excellent film set on the grim wimpy estate in Bolsover Derbyshire. this estate four miles from my home truly is a rough area and the film accurately reflects the traumatic impact of the closure of the mining industry in the eighties

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

wow.....sad.....brilliant....amazing.....i have just seen this movie 4 the 1st time n think that this is a great movie 2 watch.....its got a good cast of actors/actressess throughout this movie.....i think that robert carlyle, steve evets, rachael blake, michael socha, sean kelly, play good roles/parts throughout this movie.....i think that the director of this drama movie had done a great job of directing this movie because you never know what 2 expect throughout this movie.....its got a good soundtrack throughout this movie......it is such a powerful drama movie 2 watch but in some scenes it is really quite funny 2 watch, in some scenes throughout this movie..... BAFTA Scotland Award - Best Directing in Film or Television - Won BAFTA Scotland Award - Best Feature Film - Won BAFTA Scotland Award - Best Acting Performance in Film, Robert Carlyle - Nominee man this is so so so powerful movie 2 watch, its got a great cast throughout this movie, i think that this is such a real tear jerker of a movie as it is such a really sad movie 2 watch, but its got some good comedy scenes throughout this movie.....man this is such a powerful drama movie 2 watch, its got a great cast throughout this movie, its such a real tear jerker movie 2 watch, it is so so so so sad movie 2 watch, its got a great cast throughout this movie, its got a good soundtrack throughout this movie.....man this is such a really sad movie 2 watch, its got a great cast throughout this movie....man this is such a real tear jerker movie 2 watch, its got a great cast throughout this movie, man it is such a sad movie 2 watch, its got a great cast throughout this movie, it is so so so fantastic movie 2 watch, its got a great cast throughout this movie, it is so so so sad movie 2 watch but it is so fantastic movie 2 watch.......

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

There are a few literal-minded scene-by-scene explanations too many; how undiagnosed dyslexia made a bad kid out of Shaun. It's a shame as they put the emotional heart of film at arm's-length.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Depressing and dismal tale, that offers very few surprises. Watchable drama

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Meant to give this three stars for a good performance from Mr Carlyle.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Shaun (Robert Carlyle) looks back on a happy youthful summer and we find out why there is such a strong bond between him and his disabled best friend (Steve Evets), and how their lives came to turn out they way they did. Past and present are matched up beautifully as Shaun looks back at the best summer ever, whilst coping with the disaster of his real life.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

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Kenneth Glenaan

Director

Rachael Blake

Katy

Robert Carlyle

Shaun

Steve Evets

Daz

Michael Socha

Daniel

Joanna Tulej

Young Katy

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Dave Calhoun

Time Out

As a portrait of stasis brought on by poverty and a study of youthful abandon gone sour in the face of zero opportunities, this is sensitive stuff, even if there's little that's surprising.

Rated: 3/6

Dec 5, 2008

Full Review

James Christopher

Times (UK)

Glenaan's spare film, set on a council estate in Bolsover, shows how dreams are cruelly extinguished, yet little bits of surreal magic illuminate this tough film with glimmers of hope.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 5, 2008

Full Review

Cath Clarke

Guardian

There are a few literal-minded scene-by-scene explanations too many; how undiagnosed dyslexia made a bad kid out of Shaun. It's a shame as they put the emotional heart of film at arm's-length.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 5, 2008

Full Review

Neil Smith

Film4

Strong performances across the board elevate a small-scale tale that's easy to admire but hard to get excited about.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 5, 2008

Full Review

Rob Daniel

Sky Cinema

Carlyle's central turn is one of the year's most poignant and tear-jerking acting displays, easily erasing the misstep of Eragon.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 5, 2008

Full Review

Matthew Turner

ViewLondon

Sharply written with an award-winning performance from Robert Carlyle, this is an engaging drama that packs a powerful emotional punch.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 5, 2008

Full Review

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Synopsis

A man full of promise struggles to fix his life.

Director: Kenneth Glenaan
Executive Producer: Nigel Thomas
Screenwriter: Hugh Ellis
Production Co: UK Film Council
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 29, 2016