Written and directed by Jared Isaac, Kevin and his girlfriend, Cody, are two months into his family’s annual trip at their Northern Michigan home. Amid peaceful days and adventurous nights, Kevin and Cody must slowly awaken to the reality that the day they head off to different colleges is fast approaching. Starring: Lukita Maxwell, Mark McKenna, Louise Barnes, Katie Baker, Tony Horton, Jun Yu, Joette Waters, Josh Rogers, Julian Bass and Sophie Marty.
Straight off the bat, Jared Isaac deserves a huge amount of credit for what he’s created with An Autumn Summer. To make a teenage romance that is neither cringeworthy, frustrating, irritating, overly youthful or insincere is not even close to an easy task in this day and age. So, Isaac crafting a romance that this sweet, touching, genuine and charming, which entirely revolves around eighteen year-olds, is an undeniable achievement.
As soon as you enter An Autumn Summer it has such a cute energy, their personalities and the friendship between the core quartet is infectious. That’s really a big part of what makes this film work so well, having Lukita Maxwell, Mark McKenna, Jun Yu and Julian Bass create such a natural, engaging dynamic. Ultimately, this film is about the moments in-between not the destination, so it relies entirely upon the romance and connections, and they don’t disappoint. They all manage to build that feel of having a good time, enjoying their summer, while tinging it with the apprehension of facing a new chapter, and the nostalgia of their childhoods.
The atmosphere which Isaac creates, along with the great work from cinematographer Brandon Somerhalder (who also worked on the acclaimed documentary Come See Me in the Good Light), is utterly youthful, but not to the point that it alienates an older audience. It’s accessible and energetic, it moves gradually but it’s never stagnant.
There are however a couple of divisive choices, the fairy tale touches do somewhat undermine the overall atmosphere. As well as choosing to add in a shower scene between the teen couple feels unnecessary given their young age. It also becomes fairly serious as the film comes to an end, and they contemplate their relationship, which switches the tone up a bit too much, throwing things off balance.
Regardless, An Autumn Summer is an authentic, sincere piece of youthful romantic cinema. It’s sweet and fun, it’s charming to watch these friends just have a good time, as the ensemble all have such a fantastic connection. Lukita Maxwell and Mark McKenna both give excellent performances and create a convincing relationship, which feels effortless. It’s shot really well to match that summer vibe, add in some nostalgia and make the most of that great setting. It’s cute, entertaining and a strong debut from Jared Isaac.
FilmCarnage.com 