„My Summer of Love”
directed by Paweł Pawlikowski, running time: 86’, 2004.
My Summer of Love – one of the highlights of the film season of 2013 was Paweł Pawlikowski’s “Ida”, which garnered rave reviews and was also critically acclaimed during the Gdynia Film Festival. As part of the Miasto Movie series of film screenings, we have decided to show one of Pawlikowski’s earlier features – UK-produced “My Summer of Love” (2004).
This is a low-key narrative about three people, set somewhere in rural England. Tamsin (one of the first impactful if not breakthrough roles by Emily Blunt) is the most electrifying character of the trio. Economically privileged, complacent, and bored with her life of opulence, she engages herself in an emotional power game with Mona, a simple small-town girl, and Phil, her older brother. Mona dreams of a better life and abandoning the provincial inertia she was raised in. In contrast, Phil suddenly undergoes a religious transformation, as a result of which he strives to better not just himself but to alter the lifestyle of the local community. Tamsin’s mind games and psychological manipulations lead to the blooming of unknown and unrealised feelings as well as pent-up desires experienced by the threesome. Pawlikowski is a master storyteller, subtly narrating his tale of growing up, adolescent emotions and first major life disappointments. It is worth looking with him under the veneer of the English provincial life since the director, as particular as his vision in “My Summer of Love” is, often touches upon universal themes.
Free admission