Just finished summerland and I’m crying in a good way. It will surprise you and it’s not even a little bit about homophobia nor racism. It’s a warm movie. It’s so refreshing to watch a movie that has the main characters as queer women and the conflict in the movie isn’t about homophobia.
Aww, I’m glad it made you feel that way, anon! I was going to say that I didn’t think it was entirely free from homophobia, but tbh, that really had nothing to do with the main conflict, so agreed.
I think what I like about the movie so much is how much it’s for us. So often, media featuring marginalized characters has them suffering for the benefit of other people, so THEY can watch and, you know, Learn and Sympathize, and like, I understand the intention, but aside from being unsure it even works, it just means it’s for someone else. But this was entirely for us, the way they met and it jumped ahead, knowing we’d understand, the conflict as it came up, it didn’t need to be delved into detail, and then of course the ending was so much more for us than the people who need to be explained to again how bad it was for historical gays. There can be conflict and angst and tension without giving us a full dose of in your face bigotry.
Listen, I did not see that twist coming in Summerland lol I’m sure other viewers did, but not me! And when it happened, seeing Ava go through all of those emotions was an experience! I fucking loved it and thought “oh my god, how fucking convenient and unrealistic” But yes, finally something corny happens for us. More of this contrived make you feel mushy inside wlw films please!
I KNOW, Alice’s face when she saw the picture! I have that moment on my list to gif but I don’t even know if I can do it justice without the sound, the sheer incredulity and like, Gemma Arterton almost hyperventilating as she looked through the rest of the pictures. And omg, her face when she saw Vera and then Vera withFrank.
And yes, it was convenient and unrealistic and contrived, but that happens all the time in m/f movies! And it’s not even like it was a massive coincidence, Vera had actually spent a lot of effort actively coordinating this. In m/f movies, the climactic suspense comes from whether or not the person who’s more in doubt at that point will forgive the other person or choose to follow their heart instead of convenience or even if the timing will just work out, whatever it takes to show up. And that’s what Vera did! Show up! Like, yeah, it was a bit cheesy and unearned but it often is! We–by which I mean all viewers, wlw or not–are so used to f/f characters separating in historical pieces (even when the book says they stay together, TITTB??) that we’re almost judging it by a different standard, since it’s so out of the realm of normal for us. Not every movie has to be the best movie ever, it can just be watchable and enjoyable, and this super was.
Watched Summerland, thought it was a cute movie. Not nearly long enough imo and I know people flocked to it for the Vera x Alice but I actually would’ve loved more Frank & Alice. They were super cute!
Yeah, I feel like they could have fit so much more in! Honestly, I would have been fine staying in this world for a lot longer, knowing the guarantee of that happy ending was coming.
Aww, more Frank and Alice? There was so much of them! But I can get wanting more, Frank was so sweet and just kept on breaking through Alice’s barriers. I actually really appreciated how much of the movie happened before she knew he was Vera’s son, although, obviously, that’s deliberate to literally be part of the whole story and happy ending, but you know, sometimes stories miss really simple tricks.
I WOULD have not minded some more scenes after Vera arrived, aside from sending the plane off, a bit more with the three of them. Even if it wasn’t anything super serious, like the inevitably awkward setting him down and explaining…so much. Or, omg, if in front of Frank Vera holds up THAT record and is like, oh, you still have this? Frank and Alice would have both thrown themselves into the ocean over that.
ALSO, I wouldn’t have minded more of Frank and Vera. Honestly, more of every permutation, please.
Oh so the publisher – 23 times – scene was not how they first met? Was that explained to the audience because I just watched it and I could only see glimpses of their past? Or did I miss it?
No, I think that’s how she tracked her down after, but the first time they met was what we saw that first flashback, at the concert. The 23 times would have been after they already had broken up and it wasn’t referenced at any other time, no. The timeline would have been:
Meeting at the concert -> other little flashbacks like in the car, by the lake, on the bed, and so on -> breaking up -> the 23 times search -> Vera sending Frank to Alice -> Vera going to Frank and Alice -> decades of happiness -> Vera finally telling Alice she looked for her in 23 different shops
Summerland was literally the cutest thing ever!!
Wasn’t it! They just piled on every happy emotional little thing they could. 🙂 I just–I know it’s not the best movie artistically but I so appreciate how it went out of its way to add all that in. It reminded me a lot of the kind of period movies you got in the ‘90s? Except with straight people then, obviously. But it was that kind of thing, and where it won’t really be particularly memorable for most people except for the fact that it’s f/f. But that’s enough for me!
About Summerland: Could you explain the “tracking you down/one call to a publisher” scene please? Not sure I understand what it refers to. I think I missed something :/
That was it, you didn’t miss anything. Which I love, because they were just talking like normal people about a story they both already know, and more importantly, know they both already know, so they can reference it by shortcut instead of awkwardly telling the whole thing again just to clumsily convey exposition to the audience.
We can assume that at some point, most likely quite soon after their reunion, Alice would have wanted to know how Vera found her address to even send Frank. And Vera would have told her that she went to a bookshop, found one of Alice’s books, called up the publisher, and got her address. And that would have been that.
And then in this scene decades later, Vera tells her that she didn’t just go to a bookshop, she went to 23. 23! So of course Alice, the big softie, is moved by that.
Will summerland break my nonexistent heart?
I really don’t believe it will break your clearly very present heart, anon!
I did a Summerland /San Junipero double feature with my friend and we cried like babies because we expected something terrible to happen and it didn’t! Summerland was just the right amount of sweet and the main actress, Gemma I think, was wonderful with her expressions. We’re both partial to Gugu, I really hope she keeps dropping these sapphic gems on us every few years. And I loved seeing old wlw! That’s rare!
Awww, what a twofer! Gemma really was quite lovely, those closeups and her very expressive conflicted face.
Summerland definitely seemed like there’d be a tragic backdrop but the twist was amazing, and then them doubling down on how happy the ending was. :’) Really LOVE these for Gugu but would love for her to get a more central role in one of these, a bit more interiority, you know? But indeed, a great genre to be a part of, and hope there are more to come! Including with more older wlw!