Five to Watch - Sweltering Summer Movies

We’re in the middle of summer. For a lot of people the best time of year (not for my btw). I decided to focus on films where the heat got cranked up, once you might not know, are overlooked or underrated. Here are five sweltering summer movies you should watch.

Now and Then (1995)
Four girls who met in 1970 when they were around twelve, meet twenty years later and notice the differences. What connected them all that time was an unsolved murder in 1945. The film is nice to watch, because of the good performances of both the young actresses and the older versions of them. It’s the ‘girl version’ of “Stand By Me”, which is much better, but “Now and Then” is a sweet and relatable coming-of-age story.

Do the Right Thing (1989)
A colorful, individualistic magnification of of a multi-racial New York neighborhood, full of tension. In less than 24 hours, the residents are led to a boiling point, partly because of the summer heat, partly because of intolerance. The hatred is mainly directed towards the Italian owners of a pizza joint. A film full of brutality and double standards, which definitely established director Spike Lee’s reputation. It’s a beautiful piece of work. And even though it won’t be for everyone, I think you should all give it a go.

Call Me By Your Name (2017)
It’s the summer of 1983. The 24-year-old American research assistant Oliver comes to Northern Italy to assist Professor Perlman. He impresses his seventeen-year-old son Elio, who falls in love with Oliver to his own amazement. It’s a prize-winning film adaptation of André Aciman’s novel of the same name, directed by Luca Guadagnino. All praise is understandable, because “Call Me By Your Name” is a fantastic film. It’s sparkles, it’s intimate and honest. I fell in love with it right away and the summer is the perfect time to watch it.

The Way Way Back (2013)
Against his will, shy fourteen-year-old Duncan has to spend the summer at the beach house of the arrogant Trent, his mother Pam’s new boyfriend. Luckily, the grief is alleviated by a charming neighbor girl and a job at the local water park. Here he befriends owner Owen (a great role by Sam Rockwell). It’s a coming-of-age film that offers surprises in term of content and is refreshingly sincere in tone. A kindhearted film with a great cast.

My Summer of Love (2004)
A pleasant countryside drama about the growing intimacy between two British teenage girls during a sweltering summer in Yorkshire. Bored teenager Mona is a working class girl who is mothered by her brother Phil, a reborn Christian. Mona’s adoration for sophisticated Tamsin sets the relationship between sister and brother on edge. Intimacy and increasing tension of all kinds are convincingly portrayed, driven by an intelligent screenplay and strong acting.