Summer Survivors

With Summer Survivors Lithuania showed us all how well a social drama can look like and how little we need to be filled with information, in order to understand and enjoy a movie. It is a experience that does not rely on massive introduction and build up of story, rather the vivid characters deliver a reality check about acceptance and the sheer helplessness in terms of mental illness. The movie felt never like drifting off from it's premise and i had the feeling that every little conversation was a small story of itself dealing with other aspects of the society. I admire the choice of the ambiente, colouring and sound constantly underlining the moment, but the movie never feels like having gap filler scenes nor being rushed. The movie had it's own subtile humour to catch our attention, but let go of it in the right moment. The actors did a wonderful job so it never shined through it is a work of fiction. I'd challenge anyone getting expelled from the description of it to go and watch it.

As a social drama it leaves plenty of room for your own judgments and interpretations without unnecessary visual or dramatic clutter. The acting is great and tasteful cinematography only enhances it. What I especially appreciated was the simplicity of it. Sometimes social dramas feel like they really try to pull you into the drama with strong visual and dramatic elements. This is slightly different- it feels quite lighthearted at times yet providing a lot of depth for your own thoughts. Natural interactions between people and almost non existent climax of the story make this film a masterpiece. Almost brutal realities of under-financed and stigmatized mental healthcare in Lithuania are displayed with the sense of a normal providing the viewer with ability to experience this in the purest way possible.

A very enjoyable movie in deed. The pace and pulse of intensity is managed perfectly, so those 90 minutes passed very quickly. Filming locations, scene decoration and documentary style of filming seem a bit dull at first, but as the movie unfolds these are the things that help to capture the atmosphere. Cinematography is rather odd, with the camera tilted too much up so that the bottom of the frame seems cropped. I don't understand the purpose of this but I also began to like it by the end of the movie. Soundtrack puts some extra quality to the movie. Actually the one thing I missed was cameo of someone from Hiperbole -the scene in the restaurant was perfect for that :)

I will not go into other areas, but what this movie tries to bring up several times is social stigma of mental illness in Lithuania. This negative reputation and shame adds extra toll and pressure on people who are suffering mental conditions or makes them even avoid treatment. I'm glad this issue is being escalated through art forms, as it is easier this way to initiate much needed conversation in the country with high suicidal rates.

Really well performed and directed film. After having seen a couple of underwhelming movies at TIFF that were well attended based on hype but not necessarily substance, this little known film should be celebrated and discussed with the best of the year. Don't be fooled by the somewhat generic title, Summer Survivors is a quiet, meditative film about mental health stigmas/labels, and realizing the beauty in the little moments that surround us, even if the characters themselves might not see them. Billed as a movie about mental health, it's a road movie that doesn't force things, and is subtly well acted throughout. Everyone has their own ideas and experiences about what it means to deal with mental health. This movie is just one very real example of how these issues are not defined by singular moments, but must take into consideration the universal in-betweens of everyday highs and lows.