Summer films frequently illustrate themes of frustration and disappointment, contrasting sunny exteriors with complex inner emotions. They explore loss of innocence and relational disconnects during supposed carefree times. Classic examples highlight characters grappling with existential crises amid celebratory settings. One notable film depicts a yacht trip marred by the mysterious disappearance of a friend, provoking inner turmoil among those left behind. Another film centers on a woman's struggle for creative recognition while in a stifling marriage over a summer in New York, showcasing emotional and relational challenges during this season of warmth and light.
Antonioni is the godfather of films about our empty and alienated modernity, so it's only fitting to begin our list with a film depicting one of the most depressing holidays in the history of cinema. A band of beautiful Italians chart a celebratory yacht trip even though mild resentment and dissatisfaction linger in each of their relationships, but they are shocked when Anna (Lea Massari) disappears without trace on a rocky island midway through the film.
Recently programmed as part of BFI's landmark Black Debutantes season, this is one of two films directed by poet, playwright and activist Kathleen Collins. It's a brief but precise drama about Sara (Seret Scott), a sharp academic writer who's constrained by her loud, arrogant painter husband Victor (Bill Gunn) during a summer in New York state.
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