L'été indien

This movie is a natural for me because, when I was young I wanted to grow up to be Kevin Kline and I wanted Sissy Spacek as my girlfriend. It didn't quite work out that way.

Here she is August "Gussie" Sawyer and he is Henry Squires, high school sweethearts in this Maryland coastal town. When his father died Henry had to take over the newspaper while Gussie wanted to see the world and became a prominent photojournalist, traveling all over the world on assignments.

Now some 15 years later Gussie returns to her hometown for a visit, she finds Henry there happily married and with a 13-yr-old son. But as soon as they meet they see the passion is still there. Henry's wife is devoted but not stupid, she recognizes what is going on.

The last half of the movie is a morality play of sorts, does Henry give in to the mutual desires and leave with Gussie to team up for a big assignment, and probably leave his family for good? Or does he do the right thing and honor his marriage vows, and be a good husband and father?

This isn't a particularly novel theme but with the actors and direction it is a worthwhile movie. Of note the director is Jack Fisk, the real-life husband of Sissy Spacek, in fact as of now, 2020, they have been married for 46 years.

Have you ever imagined yourself going back to your birthplace after many years away? Well, imagine so. There you are, meeting your love from old times, now married. Would all that flame come back? What would happen? This film is about this. A very good option for a rainy Sunday afternoon. And Sissy Spacek, like always, shines.

I was vacationing in Ocean City, Maryland when this film was being made. I remember hearing on the radio that the production crew was looking for background extras for some early scenes in the film. I wish I had tried out for one! I have always had a soft spot in my heart for this film, not simply because I love Ocean City, but because this movie is proof that a simple story, told with honest sincerity, can rise head and shoulders above flashy production values and overblown dramatics. Spacek and Klein do quite well with their lead roles. Low-key dramas like this seem more down to Earth because this is how real people such as ourselves would act in similar situations. By wisely omitting any shots of the many high rise condominiums of northern Ocean City, the filmmakers have done an excellent job of portraying this as a small coastal town. If romantic sentimentality is not your thing, you'll probably yawn through this movie. But if you're the type of person to often look back and wonder "what if," then Violets Are Blue is certainly worth your time.

This movie brought back so many memories of Ocean City, Maryland. My husband and I met there and we had so many fond memories.....we were together 33 years years and since his passing two years ago, I find myself traveling to the ocean to recapture that peace and tranquility we both had there. The movie lets me see and remember those things that young people experience in a small resort town. We lived there during the late 60's early 70's and the movie pinpointed one of the buildings we had lived in during that time, what a pleasure it was to watch the actors walk through places that my husband and I had shared many years ago......thank you!

Kevin Kline is one of my very favorites. He's quite sexy in this film. Sissy Spacek is beautiful. When the two looked at each other, they made the screen melt. This is one time I was rooting for the 'other woman.' It makes us all think about the one that got away.