Movies That Emit "Summer Fever" Energy
by Derin Savaşan
With less than a month to go until summer break, a majority of us have already caught summer fever. While the ongoing quarantine might have altered some of our future plans, our yearning for a well-deserved summer break hasn’t changed a tiny bit. I, for one, have been watching a lot of movies —most of which that emit summer fever energy.
So, I thought it would be a good idea to share some of these movies with you as my farewell present. I left out classics like Dirty Dancing (1987) and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) on purpose since most of us have watched them already, and tried to include lesser-known or indie movies instead that deserve a little more recognition.
Keep in mind that this is only a shortened list. To view the original Letterboxd list, click here.
1. Call Me By Your Name (2017)
Set in 1983 in Northern Italy, Call Me By Your Name chronicles the romantic relationship between 17-year-old Elio Perlman (Timothée Chalamet), and Oliver (Armie Hammer) —a 24-year-old graduate-student assistant to Elio’s father, who is an archaeology professor. Not only does Elio fall in love with Oliver, but he also has one of the best summer breaks, ever —spending his time reading, swimming, clubbing, and eating a bunch of...fruits.
Despite the soul-crushing ending, Call Me By Your Name is as “summery” as a movie can get. All the performances are top-notch, the Sufjan Stevens songs are to die for, and Luca Guadagnino’s filmmaking is impeccable. From the 35mm lens to the 1980s Italy soundtrack, this movie screams summer fever. The original André Aciman novel is equally great. If you like this, def check Céline Sciamma’s Water Lilies (2007) out next.
2. Midsommar (2019)
A dark tale set mostly in the bright sunlight of a secluded Swedish village, Midsommar tells the story of a young woman, Dani (Florence Pugh), who is gripped with grief after a horrific family tragedy. When Christian, Dani’s boyfriend, begrudgingly invites her to join him and some fellow anthropology graduate students on a trip to Sweden for a festival that occurs once every 90 years, they find themselves in the clutches of a pagan cult.
I threw this movie into the mix because I find Scandinavian (especially Swedish) cultures so fascinating. From their definition of “community” and “love” to the way they grieve,
Swedish culture feels so different and peculiar compared to my own. So, if you like horror and summer, Ari Aster’s Midsommar is probably your thang. Beware, though, it’s pretty graphic
3. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
In late 1950s New York, Tom Ripley (Matt Damon), a young underachiever, is sent to Italy to retrieve Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law) —a rich, spoiled millionaire playboy and a Princeton graduate. But when the errand fails, Ripley takes extreme measures to make Greenleaf’s privileges his own. He can’t fool everyone around him, though, because Dickie’s expatriate girlfriend, Marge (Gwyneth Paltrow), is always within earshot.
I love everything about this movie: the fact that both Jude Law and Matt Damon are in it, the cinematography, the story, and the way it keeps you on the edge of your seat. It also has 2 Oscar wins and 5 nominations. So, if you enjoyed the aesthetics of Call Me By Your Name, you should watch The Talented Mr. Ripley next. The Patricia Highsmith novel with the same title is also great.
4. mid90s (2018)
mid90s follows Stevie (Sunny Suljic), a thirteen-year-old in 1990s-era Los Angeles. He’s struggling with his family, including his co-dependent single mom and his abusive older brother, and at school —where his wealthier friends seem to overlook him. When Stevie befriends a crew of skateboarders at a Motor Avenue skate shop, he learns some tough lessons about class, race, and privilege.
Remember Jonah Hill as the funny fat guy from Wolf of Wall Street and (2013) and Superbad (2007)? Well, mid90s happens to be Hill’s directorial debut. So, if you’re a 90s-wannabe like me and are a fan of Tony Hawk, there is a 99.9% chance that you’ll like this movie. The cast also features some of my favorite newcomers like Ladybird’s (2017) Lucas Hedges, and Euphoria’s (2019) Alexa Demie.
5. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of two twelve-year-olds, Sam and Suzy, who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities (Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray) try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing off-shore — and the peaceful island community is turned upside down.
I love how sad and happy this movie is at the same time. Like, there’s this part when they’re showing all the grown-up characters, just thinking about their lives and staring sadly into the distance, and it’s so touching. Yet, the main story, about Sam and Susie, is so warm and content. They love each other and simply wanna be together. The scene where they dance to Françoise Hardy’s “Le Temps de l’Amour” by the lake is...perfect.
6. Booksmart (2019)
Booksmart tells the story of two academic overachievers, Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein), who have always worked too hard and played less. But on the eve of their graduation, the best friends suddenly realize that they may have missed out on the special moments of their teenage years. Determined to make up for the lost time, the girls decide to cram four years of not-to-be-missed fun into one night.
I’m well aware that the plot sounds overly-specific, but as a high school senior who never got a proper graduation, I do find it exceedingly relatable. I mean, most of us have worked really hard in the past 6 months to get to where we’re at today but never had a chance to let off any steam properly. So, if you liked Ladybird (2019), you should def check this one out. It also happens to be actress Olivia Wide’s directorial debut, so show her some love!
7. The Florida Project (2017)
Set over one summer, The Florida Project follows Moonee (Brooklyn Prince), a six-year- old girl living with her delinquent single mother in a motel in Kissimmee, Florida. They’re trying to stay out of trouble and make ends meet to keep ahead of impending homelessness. The misery and poverty of their life in Kissimmee is contrasted with nearby Walt Disney World, which can be seen at a distance in one shot.
The Florida Project may be one of the most raw, emotional, and immersive movies I’ve seen in a long time. It feels so authentic —watching these people’s lives. I love movies like that, movies that don’t exactly have a plot but show snippets from people’s lives fast enough to keep my attention. Also, this is the first time Willem Dafoe hasn’t looked like the human embodiment of evil, so it’s quite interesting to watch lol.
8. La Piscine (1969)
La Piscine tells the story of two lovers, Jean-Paul (Alain Dion) and Marianne (Romy Schneider), who’re spending a happy, lazy summer holiday in a magnificent villa near a St. Tropez. But everything changes when Marianne invites her former lover (Maurice Ronet) and his beautiful teenage daughter (Bridget Bardot) to spend a few days with them. A certain tension begins to develop, which soon turns into a dangerous love-game.
So, this film was in my mental queue for years, and when Luca Guadagnino’s A Bigger Splash (2015 remake) came out, I decided finally to watch it. What I didn’t know was that they actually shot two versions of this film: one in French and the other in English (for the international release). Imagine what a pain in the ass that must have been. It’s like making two films at once. Very impressive, though, which is why I put it on the list.
9. What About Bob? (1991)
What About Bob? is a dark comedy about Dr. Leo Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss) —a psychiatrist who has the misfortune of taking on a new patient, Bob Wiley (Bill Murray), before going on a summer vacation. Suffering from neediness and phobias, Bob follows Marvin to his family’s country house, making himself at home. Despite Marvin’s efforts to get Bob to leave, everyone loves having him around, turning Marvin into a nutjob himself.
What About Bob? is easily one of my favorite comedies of all time. It’s absolutely hilarious from start to finish with Bill Murray delivering the greatest comedic performance of his lifetime. He portrays a character that annoys the hell out of you but does it so well that it only adds to the big laughs of the movie. It’s a great comedy and a pretty underrated movie in Murray’s filmography.
10. Do The Right Thing
Do the Right Thing tells the story of Sal Fragione, the Italian owner of a pizzeria in Brooklyn, and a neighborhood local, Buggin’ Out, who becomes upset when he sees that the pizzeria’s Wall of Fame exhibits only Italian actors. Buggin’ Out believes a pizzeria in a black neighborhood should showcase black actors, but Sal disagrees. The wall becomes a symbol of racism to Buggin’ Out and other people in the neighborhood, rising tension.
Do the Right Thing is a masterwork of boiling tension and racial politics. I mean, it’s been 31 years since this movie was released, and the events depicted are still so relevant. I can’t believe the Academy snubbed this in favor of Driving Miss Daisy (1989) back in the day —which is why I couldn’t possibly conclude this list without a Spike Lee movie. So, do the right thing and watch it, will ya?