Summertime

R

Released Jul 9, 2021

1h 35m

Comedy

Drama

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List

80%

69 Reviews

Tomatometer

SUMMERTIME follows the intersecting stories of 27 youth spoken word poets over a single day in Los Angeles. The director's ground-breaking vision began at a poetry showcase where performers from across the City of Angels recited fearlessly personal texts about themselves, their communities, and their relationship to their city. The project was then developed around their individual poems and interwoven into a larger, unified, and gloriously moving narrative experiment -- part contemporary musical and part sociological art. SUMMERTIME explores themes of identity, community, and intersectionality through the unique perspectives of this diverse ensemble.

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Critics Consensus

Although its conceptual ambitions are muddled by its hopscotching sequences, Summertime's earnest heart beautifully captures what it means to live and breathe in the City of Angels.

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michele m

I loved the pace and the closeups and the interweaving of stories. It's a love letter to LA and features young people with varying degrees of angst.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Beth S

Soulful, funny, quirky characters spontaneously on the streets of Los Angeles weave together a loosely told tale. Spoken word poetry, music, colorful street art, scenes of grim and gritty and also joyful life on the streets of Los Angeles all weave together to create this refreshing and raw little gem of a movie.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/03/22

Full Review

Audience Member

I absolutely LOVED this film. Beautifully shot with poetry passionately delivered by the writers themselves. It's one day in LA through the eyes of (more than) 27 people who's lives intersect throughout. It's just so much fun! If you've ever lived in or loved Los Angeles - this movie is a MUST SEE.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

100% original. I can't wait to see it again.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

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Audience Member

This movie was inspiring and helped me realize some things that I had not processed yet.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

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Audience Member

Inspiring Film!! A Poetic New Wave of Cinema!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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Carlos López Estrada

Director

Tyris Winter

Tyris

Marquesha Babers

Marquesha

Maia Mayor

Sophia

Austin Antoine

Austin

Bryce Banks

Anewbyss

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Summertime: Trailer 1

1:44

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Amy Nicholson

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

It feels like Slacker for a new generation, which I really appreciated... This feels like one of the most L.A. films I've ever seen.

Jul 23, 2021

Full Review

Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

I love this film as much as it loves Los Angeles, which is deeply.

Jul 23, 2021

Full Review

Ty Burr

Boston Globe

The movies have a long history of "kids putting on a show." "Summertime" belongs to that tradition even as it expands its boundaries into the heartsore world offscreen.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 21, 2021

Full Review

Sarah Vincent

Cambridge Day

The film improves on that series in terms of nuance and providing palpable emotional journeys, and the hard-earned denouement will transport you to a place of peace, satisfaction and hope; leave your rose-colored glasses at home.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 16, 2023

Full Review

Mo Muzammal

Vague Visages

Summertime feels wrong-headed, even if its heart is in the right place.

Jul 27, 2023

Full Review

Josh Parham

Next Best Picture

The commentary may not always be profound, but the vibrancy felt in these situations maintains an electricity that is amusing to witness.

Rated: 7/10

Jun 8, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

SUMMERTIME follows the intersecting stories of 27 youth spoken word poets over a single day in Los Angeles. The director's ground-breaking vision began at a poetry showcase where performers from across the City of Angels recited fearlessly personal texts about themselves, their communities, and their relationship to their city. The project was then developed around their individual poems and interwoven into a larger, unified, and gloriously moving narrative experiment -- part contemporary musical and part sociological art. SUMMERTIME explores themes of identity, community, and intersectionality through the unique perspectives of this diverse ensemble.

Director: Carlos López Estrada
Screenwriter: Dave Harris, Mila Cuda, Olympia Miccio, Tyris Winter, Amaya Blankenship, Bene't Benton, Hanna Harris, Marco Bizio, Raul Herrera, Bryce Banks, Marquesha Babers, Walter Finnie Jr., Anna Osuna, Zach Perlmutter, Jason Alvarez, Austin Antoine, Maia Mayor, Madyson Park, Xochitl Morales
Distributor: Good Deed Entertainment
Production Co: Los Angeles Media Fund
Rating: R (Language Throughout|Sexual References)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 9, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 27, 2021
Box Office (Gross USA): $18.7K
Runtime: 1h 35m

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