
Summertime
By Monique Jones,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Mature poetry film promotes connection, empathy, compassion.

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Summertime
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What's the Story?
SUMMERTIME is an innovative spoken-word film that takes viewers on a journey in the day of Los Angeles through the eyes of 25 characters. Through their poetry, viewers gain insight into the harshness, connectedness, and hope that bind these strangers together.
Is It Any Good?
Prospective viewers of Summertime should know off the top that this bold film is like a musical -- except instead of musical numbers, there's poetry. It's really good poetry, but Summertime still might not be for you if you're not a poetry fan. (Confession: Poetry isn't this reviewer's favorite thing.) But if you are into poetry, specifically spoken word or slam poetry, then Summertime is right up your alley.
The poems are introspective and relevant to issues that are both specific to Gen Z and more universal. Some of the themes include fissures in relationships between parents and children, self-discovery, the pains of adulthood made worse by an increasingly capitalistic society, and longings for acceptance. Darker themes -- including mental, emotional, and physical abuse -- are also present in the poets-turned-actors' spoken pieces. The characters take turns being in the proverbial spotlight, and while it may seem hard to follow at first, eventually you see the culmination of all of their stories creating the fabric of Los Angeles, where dreams, hopes, and unsavory realities collide into a relatable, inspiring, film about finding the freedom to be yourself.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the use of poetry as a means of expression. How do the characters in Summertime use poetry to define their experiences?
What aspects of the Summertime poems did you identify with? Which poems made you think differently?
How is poetry used here as a way to combat discrimination, abuse, and other negative aspects of life? How is it used as a tool of defiance? How can art be used to defy the status quo effectively?
How did the characters' experiences, including those expressed through poetry, bring them together?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 9, 2021
- On DVD or streaming: July 15, 2021
- Cast: Tyris Winter , Austin Antoine , Marquesha Babers , Bryce Banks
- Director: Carlos Lopez Estrada
- Inclusion Information: Latino directors
- Studio: Good Deed Entertainment
- Genre: Musical
- Topics: Arts and Dance
- Character Strengths: Communication , Compassion , Courage , Empathy
- Run time: 95 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: language throughout and sexual references
- Last updated: October 8, 2022
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