Summer Story

While a number of Israeli films have become prominent over the past few years, "Summer Story" somehow fell through the cracks. Perhaps its too small, modest and unpretentious. But that is precisely what makes it such a winning, albeit minor film.

As a summer holiday coming of age story, it's a somewhat innocuous sort of "Summer of 82" – sans the melodrama of the original. Well filmed in what seems to be a small farming community, one gets a strong sense of place in which the story unfolds.

There is a genuineness in all the character portrayal, from the leads to the most minor parts, a sure sign of good direction. Coming of age films tend to work or not, on the strength of the protagonist's acting abilities. First timer Costa Kaplan carries the film effortlessly often underplaying his part and creating a real person, facilitating an empathy vital for films of this nature.

Most pleasing is the avoidance of tragic overtones which may have tempted lesser sure hands. On the contrary, the film is imbued with an offbeat if vague sense of humor. The sheer warmth and honesty of this little film remains with one longer than one may expect.

Today i attended a showing of Summer Story at a local Israeli film festival. I went into the theatre not thinking much of it...If anything else this would be a good exercise of my Hebrew vocabulary. I was so wrong. The film was made all the more poignant because the film is set in the early 80's in the heat of the first war with Lebanon (also called the Sinai war). Summer Story is a charming tale of a young boy named Gal (Kosta Kaplan) who is the mail boy in a small village in Israel. On his daily routes he befriends Chaya (Aya Stienovitz)a 19 year old girl with a heart condition who corresponds with soldiers who have been sent to battle. The relationship between Chaya and Gal is charming and fascinating to watch unfold. It is a quiet film with simple dialog, so if you are at a showing without subtitles i think you would be able to get by with a few years of Hebrew. Shmuel Haimocich's directing is wonderful-not too heavy handed or too subtle. If you are in the mood for a charming coming-of-age story, and are willing to shed a few tears, Summer Story is a film for you.