Sundance 2024

In the Summers is a tender, if at times uneven, exploration of the complexities of parent-child relationships, told through the lens of two sisters who spend their summers with their father, Vincente (played by Residente), in Las Cruces, New Mexico. They live with their mother in California for the rest of the year, creating a stark division that the film beautifully captures through a series of vignettes spanning from childhood to young adulthood.

What stands out immediately about In the Summers is its fragmented approach to storytelling. While the film unfolds generally linearly, it's broken into crucial moments from various summers, creating a disjointed yet intimate portrait of the sisters' evolving relationship with their father. This narrative structure feels reflective of the way memories often resurface in pieces, with some summers feeling more vivid than others. It's a smart choice for a film focused on how perceptions of our parents shift over time. In the early years, Vincente is almost mythologized by his daughters; he's the fun, carefree father who offers an escape from the regularity of their California life. Yet, as the girls mature, cracks in this idealized image begin to show, and the once-revered figure starts to disappoint. These feelings of disillusionment ring especially true in light of the 9-10 months they spend away from him each year, a prolonged absence that undoubtedly exacerbates their shifting perspectives.

The film delicately captures the messiness of family life, the push and pull between longing for parental approval and grappling with the reality that our parents are flawed human beings. There's a poignant universality in the way the sisters must reconcile their childhood admiration for their father with the disappointments of adulthood. By the time they reach young adulthood, their relationship with him becomes less about idolization and more about acceptance. As is often the case, the film suggests that reaching adulthood means seeing our parents through a different lens—recognizing that they, too, are simply trying to navigate life as best they can. This relatable journey of understanding and acceptance is sure to resonate with viewers.

Winner of the Grand Jury Prize for dramatic film at Sundance, In the Summers strikes a delicate balance between understated emotion and occasionally overblown melodrama. There are moments where the film leans too heavily into sentimentality, which detracts from the otherwise grounded narrative. Yet, these melodramatic flourishes are easy to forgive, thanks to the strength of the performances. Sasha Calle and Lio Mehiel bring authenticity to their roles as sisters, and their chemistry feels natural and lived-in. Residente delivers a restrained yet effective performance as Vincente, embodying both the charm and frustrations of a father who is sometimes more absent than present. This balance of emotion and melodrama keeps the audience engaged throughout the film.

Overall, In the Summers is a quiet but impactful family drama that succeeds in its exploration of the emotional complexities between parents and children. It's a great film to have closed out my Sundance 2024 experience.

— 3.5 / 5 ⭐