Review of Summer Hours (2008) by Codie E — 06 Jan 2010

The past few years of the decade has pigeonholed the basis of French films to encompass the lives of upper-middle class, intellectual/artistic families. 'Summer Hours' is no different, and certainly no more interesting.

Olivier Assayas brings to life a dull, yet somehow unique subject of two brothers and a sister struggling to find meaning and recollection of their childhood through the materialism of their deceased mother's belongings through beautiful cinematography, genuine acting, and organic dialogue.

The film tends to neglect obvious doses of sorrow over the death, save for each character experiencing maybe one physical break down. The mother smartly recorded the value and worth for all her materials - everything from crafts she made herself, books, and even the house which she lived in, which was a base for the children and their fond childhood memories.

Though delicately handled, this isn't a film set to entertain a wide audience, as we continually listen to these people discuss materials and figure out what's to become of them and who will keep what object.

Aside from most upper-middle class societal portrays from France, this one bears little dysfunction, perhaps except for the two sons arguing over whether the house should be sold or not. We witness very little filming of memories surrounding the home, but instead we start the film with something like a reunion at the house - a final gathering before the mother's death.

This is tasteful from most standpoints, but I think a filmed recollection of memories would have been considerably effective in locating the innocence of this film, instead of banal conversations which feel like a repeat of one another.

We're taken through a tour of the inner most engaging of subjects without most probable engaging of narrative devices; It documents instead of compels. 'Summer Hours' is undoubtedly divisive, though perhaps one day I'll personally relate to this film and find a deeper meaning.