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Echoes of a Summer

Play trailer Poster for Echoes of a Summer PG 1976 1h 39m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 0 Reviews 54% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Deirdre Striden (Jodie Foster) is a perceptive 11-year-old who has an incurable heart condition. Her mother, Ruth (Lois Nettleton), wants to continue to take her to new doctors, although she knows that treatment is futile. Her father, Eugene (Richard Harris), thinks she should be at their lake house, living in denial of her condition. It is only through her friendship with her 9-year-old neighbor, Philip (Brad Savage), that Deirdre is able to honestly face the reality of death.

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Losing a loved one can push anyone into different directions. Whether as a child or adult we all have ways to cope or not face what's coming. Child actor Jodie Foster in one of her first roles. She's actually almost unrecognizable. She plays Deirdre, she has a terminal illness. Her mother wants to continue treatment for her heart but even if it seems hopeless. Her father, Eugene thinks the best medicine is for her to spend more time together at the lake house. Of course it's just being in denial longer waiting for the inevitable. Then next door neighbor Philip comes into Deirdre's life. Their friendship might be the one thing having her face the all-too-sad reality of dying soon. It's important to make the time we have if we die now or later. Even as kids we have to try to understand even if adults don't tell us. Is there no grace in letting go even when we don't want to? There's really no one to blame given how limited someone has to live. Reputation is a very grown up word, so is death. Does everyone need God when instead you can have love, laughter, happiness? Reputation is all we have, kind of like an echo that'll be remembered. Deirdre does her best to keep a positive mindset but it's much harder for her parents to finally be on board with the final outcome. Deirdre does leave all kinds of echoes in these people's lives so even when she's not around anymore it'll still leave an impression. Just like many past generations of others who have also passed on but were remembered. A touching and sad film seeing how one family can rise above the grief that's to come making an impression that'll last all their lives. Jodie Foster's performance here is to be treasured for ages. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/07/24 Full Review Audience Member Losing a loved one can push anyone into different directions. Whether as a child or adult we all have ways to cope or not face what's coming. Child actor Jodie Foster in one of her first roles. She's actually almost unrecognizable. She plays Deirdre, she has a terminal illness. Her mother wants to continue treatment for her heart but even if it seems hopeless. Her father, Eugene thinks the best medicine is for her to spend more time together at the lake house. Of course it's just being in denial longer waiting for the inevitable. Then next door neighbor Philip comes into Deirdre's life. Their friendship might be the one thing having her face the all-too-sad reality of dying soon. It's important to make the time we have if we die now or later. Even as kids we have to try to understand even if adults don't tell us. Is there no grace in letting go even when we don't want to? There's really no one to blame given how limited someone has to live. Reputation is a very grown up word, so is death. Does everyone need God when instead you can have love, laughter, happiness? Reputation is all we have, kind of like an echo that'll be remembered. Deirdre does her best to keep a positive mindset but it's much harder for her parents to finally be on board with the final outcome. Deirdre does leave all kinds of echoes in these people's lives so even when she's not around anymore it'll still leave an impression. Just like many past generations of others who have also passed on but were remembered. A touching and sad film seeing how one family can rise above the grief that's to come making an impression that'll last all their lives. Jodie Foster's performance here is to be treasured for ages. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review steve d Melodramatic but Foster makes it work. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Sappy over-sentimental clap-trap. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Boring first half and nearly all of it, a predictable tear jerker, director/former actor Don Taylor and young 14 year old Jodie Foster make this a compelling film. Richard Harris acted as the father and was executive producer. A young, now 14 year old Jodie Foster gives a great? performance as an 11 year old fighting cancer and trying to console her parents during a final summer vacation in Nova Scotia. My problem with Jodie at this age is she talks and looks like a boy. Richard Harris is the dad. * Director Don Taylor had a career first as a major actor in several films like Billy Wilders Stalag 17 and husband of Elizabeth Taylor in Father of the Bride. He directed a lot of television before going on to films like this one and Escape from Planet of the Apes, The Island of Dr. Moreau with Burt Lancaster and others. ** Cinematographer John Coquillon was most famous for his work on Sam Peckinpaw's Straw Dogs and won a Genie Award for Best Achievement in Cinematography for the 1980 The Changeling. Original Release Date: May 6, 1976 99 minutes Cast Richard Harris (the father) Jodie Foster (11 year old subject of this film) Lois Nettleton Geraldine Fitzgerald William Windom Brad Savage Crew Editor: Michael F. Anderson Associate Producer: Muriel Bradley Cinematographer: John Coquillon ** Producer: Robert L. Joseph Screenplay: Robert L. Joseph Composer: Terry James Associate Producer: Dermot Harris Executive Producer: Sandy Howard Executive Producer: Richard Harris Costume Designer: Ron Talsky Director: Don Taylor * Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Another oldie but goodie. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Echoes of a Summer

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Movie Info

Synopsis Deirdre Striden (Jodie Foster) is a perceptive 11-year-old who has an incurable heart condition. Her mother, Ruth (Lois Nettleton), wants to continue to take her to new doctors, although she knows that treatment is futile. Her father, Eugene (Richard Harris), thinks she should be at their lake house, living in denial of her condition. It is only through her friendship with her 9-year-old neighbor, Philip (Brad Savage), that Deirdre is able to honestly face the reality of death.
Director
Don Taylor
Producer
Robert L. Joseph
Screenwriter
Robert L. Joseph
Production Co
Astral Films
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 39m