January 2024: Features - In The Summers
One of the many movies that caught our eye during the Sundance Film Festival was "In The Summers." The film focuses on a journey that spans the formative years of two sisters who navigate their loving but volatile father during their summer visits to his home in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
With a thoughtful and grounded approach, debut feature director Alessandra Lacorazza creates a captivating story set in the Land of Enchantment. Lacorazza shared why she created the film. "I made this film as a way to understand my father and our fractured relationship and to see a different kind of queer and Latin representation," shared Lacorazza. "My inspiration was my beautiful but often chaotic childhood - the beauty, the joys, the pain of being a child of an addict, and the importance of having my sister as an ally and a witness."
The film explores the intersection of childhood and adolescence with the challenges of adulthood. René Pérez Joglar, also known as Residente, delivers a powerful and multi-layered performance as Vicente, a charming yet troubled character. Vicente struggles to connect with his daughters as his addictive habits overshadow their games.
The talented cast, including Sasha Calle and Lío Mehiel, bring depth to the characters of Violeta and Eva as they navigate their evolving understanding of their father. "Like most family stories, "In the Summers" is about love - a complicated love," explains Lacorazza. "Through the years, they experience his [their father's] beauty and fun on a roller coaster of adventures. But as time progresses, his pain, addiction, and mental health issues peak through the surface, leaving them with deep wounds."
"In The Summers" is a poignant portrayal of growing up in a fragmented family and a tribute to the resilience required to overcome adversity. It is part of the Sundance U.S. Dramatic Competition.