Dir: Nastia Korkia | Cast: Maiia Pleshkevich, Yakov Karykhalin, Aleksandr Karpushin, Vesna Jovanović, Alexander Feklistov | Germany, Serbia, France, 101’
Tranquility reigns in this bucolic coming of age drama, for the most part dialogue free, that follows eight-year-old Katya who is spending the summer with her grandparents in the Russian countryside.
As the Chechen war rumbles on silently in the background quietly eliminating humanity, peace reigns supreme in the countryside nourishing those that live on under the clouds that scud by unperturbed
Time stands still while the kids grow up in the security of their rural idyll but the grandparents’ marriage seems to be gradually on the way out. Short Summer relies on body language to tell a coming of age story while we fill in the gaps to judge for ourselves.
Artful framing and naturalistic performances from the assembled cast of newcomers, including the delightful farmyard animals: baby chicks, goats and cows make this a delightful escape from the clamour of constant conflict. A slim but delightful first feature. @MeredithTaylor
VENICE FILM FESTIVAL 2025 | Giornate degli Autori