Amours de vacances

I liked the theme of personal growth and minor sexual liberation against the backdrop of Greece, specifically, Thira (Santorini). There is some decent, although very minor, treatment of the archaeology of the Minoan civilization on Thira. The performances were good and the scenery is stunningly beautiful. A good amount of toplessness and some minor full nudity is refreshingly well treated. Point in fact, I had similar experiences when I went to the islands in 1984. Entertaining and poignant.

This sex comedy/travelogue focuses on the beauty of Greece with its aerial photography of the island of Santorini (a.k.a. Thera). It is a picture-postcard fantasy of Greece. The production values are high and the scenes are colorful and crisp. A lot of its comedy comes from the fact that it's so embarrassing to watch, in a good way. There are a lot of cheesy moments that I wouldn't want to miss. It's 70's/early 80's alternative lifestyle style, which includes a group disco romp where everyone holds hands at the same time! Then there is that scene with the nude body builders... The film is well worth seeing if you've ever dreamed of going to Greece.

How can you NOT love a movie that actually has a clip from a 3 Stooges short?

But seriously, this movie has a way of getting under the skin of many who view it. Like "Bagdad Cafe", and "Summer of '42" this movie has a certain 'magic' to it that stays with you for a very long time afterward. It's not due to any one element, but rather, the synergy created between the beautiful cinematography of the lush Greek scenery, the chemistry between the drop-dead gorgeous cast (all at their absolute peak of sexual/physical ripeness), a dynamic, inspiring soundtrack, and a subtle, well-crafted plot (if you can actually call it that...it is more of a skeletal framework...a backdrop against which to explore the issues at hand) It is a more mature examination, a graduate course, if you will, of the sexual revolution. It is a victory celebration of polyamorous relationships. It's the other side of the coin of 'Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice'. It is "The Harrod Experiment" coming-of-age. (To those of you who were 15 when you saw "Summer Lovers", I doubt you've heard of The Harrod Experiment. The casualness with which nudity is handled in this flick only contributes to the overall beauty of it. (I doubt the movie would have had nearly the same effect if the principals were Roseanne & Oprah, with Pauley Shore playing the male lead...) Funny thing, when it came out, prurient minds dismissed it as the quintessential sleazy male fantasy. There was just one problem with this knee-jerk review...Females liked it as much (if not more) than male viewers!!! This movie has confounded the critics since its debut...and still does so as it continues to win fans 22 years after its release. It is one of the few truly realistic depictions of an 'alternate lifestyle', handled with exquisitely good taste with just the right amount of restraint. Even the editing is exemplary. Truly a classic bit of film-making.

Warning: View it at your own risk. As I stated, the 'message' of this movie is insidious, and can cause one to re-examine some long-held social conventions. Subsequent viewings only enhance this effect. 5 years before "Dirty Dancing", there was Summer Lovers.

The sole tragic note to this movie is that Valerie Quennessen died only 7 years after its release.

when they dressed as cowboys and sang her that song? so cute.

daryl hannah isn't an Oscar-caliber actress. so what? did she ever claim to be? no. she is lovely, and charming and tender. and funny! i dunno, i've always liked daryl hannah. i have no issues with her not being the greatest actress. people seem to enjoy pointing this out about her, rather than pointing out her loveliness and the tenderness she conveys with such ease through the camera. there is more to movies and actresses than being a top-notch 'respected' actress like meryl streep or judi dench or something. OK rant over :)

anyway, i thought they all looked so good together that i wanna be in a menage a trois now. or at least go to Greece and be nude on a beach ;)

it could have been better, yeah. obviously lina and cathy should have had a kissing scene (or more). but hey, they were so cute together in other scenes that it sort of made up for it. the script was uneven in places and they totally rushed through lina's emotional diversion from the threesome, but all in all i really liked it. it's adventurous, sweet and romantic. they don't make movies like this anymore.

Sometimes, one wants their movies to be an escape tool. That's what this movie was when it was made and what it has always been. Two young people vacation on a Greek Island and meet a French woman who has led a rather eclectic life. Educated, knowledgeable about life and just plain sexy she is. A love triangle ensues without all the recriminations that would result in the real world. The only "pain and suffering" is the normal feelings of sharing a lover with another.

The funniest part is the surprise visit from the American girl's mother and best friend. For all its risqué subject matter, the movie stays on the surface of all that and plays this for fun and laughter. It's just good old-fashioned escapism along the lines of "California Dreaming," "Hollywood Knights," and other movies of that genre. It serves to introduce us to Darryl Hannah and Valerie Quennessen, who was lost in an automobile accident in the eighties.

If you're looking for a movie that will give you a few laughs, a little titillation and some harmless sexuality, this is a good choice. Who knows, it may spark some interesting conversations between you and your significant other!