Summertime

Finally, a movie that's not about white and privileged people trying to survive in L.A.

I was a bit apprehensive when I first started the movie. But the flow of the words, the scenes, the beauty of it all. It was seamless. I would recommend this movie time and time again for those looking for a truthful and sometimes brutal confrontation to the identity of LA and those who live in it.

This is a film that doesn't sugar coat what it's like for most people who actually live in LA. In this movie, people take buses, wear second hand clothes, grab a burger, and tag buildings.

These poets write from their hearts and souls. They are young, They are proud and they are gifted. This is real life come to life in a movie that embraces the streets of LA... not with gangland warfare, not with drugs, but with real people who actually live there.

It is a joy to watch. You'll laugh, you'll cry and it'll leave you wanting more.

Carlos López Estrada, director of "Summertme" (color and 95 minutes long) was filmed between July and August of 2019 but mostly in L. A.'s Korean Town area. It features great poetry written by emerging poets and inspired by Get Lit: Words Ignite, a literary and writing program for urban youth. Photographed with nice visuals from L. A.'s street murals plus a fantasy-like dance choreographed number amongst the "City of Angels" diverse landscape.

It brilliantly features young and emerging spoken word poets and musicians, discussing a range of issues from LGBTIA+, racism, urban gentrification, etc. With outstanding performances by emerging poets like Marquesha Babers amongst many others. Estrada's collaborative effort makes for a creative but cultural and an urban portrayal of "So-Cal" or "Angeleno" life.

One summer day, Los Angeles. Various (mostly) young people of various ethnicities and sexual orientations have lives that randomly connect, until they all end up being invited for a ride in a giant limo.

This is an arts showcase piece, featuring poetry, song, and rap rhymes, often written by the performers themselves. Themes range from rage against gentrification, broken relationships, and underachievement. There is really no coherent story, other than devices to link the characters together.

While this is an interesting films, I saw this at the Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ film festival, and found that it didn't have quite enough gay content.