Summertime Movie Review

This is a rare gem. “Summertime” is “Blindspotting” director Carlos López Estrada’s second feature and the very personification of indie film. ​

The motivation for going to a movie is in the hopes of discovering a such as this. We don’t always succeed, but “Summertime” comes through in a big way.

In fact, the film does for Spoken Word Poetry what musicals, such as “Oklahoma,” “Sound of Music,” “West Side Story,” to name a few, have done for films. It brings a form of art to people who wouldn’t have been able to hear or see it otherwise. That’s always to be celebrated. And while doing so, this movie may have even carved the way for a new genre of film to emerge, as Spoken Word Poetry may take off. We’ll see what the future brings.

Here, and rather impressively, a particular message comes through that may not have been understood had it been transported by way of your typical narrative.

In case you don’t know what Spoken Word is, per Wikipedia, Spoken Word refers to an oral poetic performance art that is based mainly on the poem as well as the performer’s aesthetic qualities. It is a late 20th-century continuation of an ancient oral artistic tradition that focuses on the aesthetics of recitation and wordplay, such as the performer’s live intonation and voice inflection. Spoken word is a “catchall” term that includes any kind of poetry recited aloud, including poetry readings, poetry slams, jazz poetry, and hip-hop music, and can include comedy routines and prose monologues. Simply put, it’s pure talent. In fact, it’s the talented artists themselves that make the film.

As the film opens, a woman is speaking of the city she occupies, Los Angeles. She informs those who aren’t aware of the “green and grey air that people breathe all the time” This is how she sees her city. It’s gritty, but it’s hers. It’s described so brilliantly that you don’t even have to be watching the film to see the city as she does. It’s all in what she says; however, watching is unique, too. As the film carries on, we’re able to witness more of this. The characters, Tyris (Tyris Winter) especially, hold nothing back. When and if they want something, that requirement is heard loud and clear and in the most uncommon ways. You get to know their heart and soul, the good and the bad. By the end, you love them because you understand everything about them. The best example of this is a highly emotional moment by Marquesha Babers in her portrayal of ‘Marquesha.’  It’s the most dynamic scene of the film. The young woman tells a group of new friends about someone she has had a crush on and how he all but crushes everything left of her as a person. How this is done and how she approaches the role and all it calls for will have you reaching for your Kleenex, so be prepared. 

“Summertime” has solid performances by all and is exceptionally entertaining. Part of why is that López Estrada understood his duty to offer the audience quality over quantity. What I mean by that is he got his point across but didn’t feel the need to make the movie long for length’s sake. The run time is only an hour and thirty-five minutes when most movies these days are well over that.

Suppose you appreciate what you’re offered in musicals by way of what you glean from lyrics the most. If that’s the case, you’ll cherish what this script provides. It’s filled with characters that rattle off Spoken Word Poetry continually to express their every emotion. You’ll never call into question the joy the movie affords you. Another satisfying element is that each poet has a connecting storyline, and they often traverse the others. Those connections make it that much more special.

I know I’m not giving too much information on specific characters, but that’s intentional. I want you to get to know them yourself. Just know that applause goes to everyone, from those who worked on the set to those who choreographed dance sequences. I hope you enjoy “Summertime” as much as I did. And one last thing. I’d like to point out that you’ll want a burger after watching, so maybe have a run to get one planned.