‘Summer 1993’ – childhood memories
In a recent post I recommended René Clement’s film Forbidden Games which for me contains the finest performances ever given by children. It only took a month or so to encounter another film that also contains miraculous child performances. I am referring to the Spanish film Summer 1993 (2017) by Carla Simón.
This deeply personal, autobiographical debut of Simón is truly remarkable. It contains childhood memories of more than 20 years ago – as the title indicates. It is about the loneliness and confusion of a 6-year old orphaned girl, trying to cope with her grief and her need to find a new footing for life.
The 6-year old Frida, played by Laia Artigas, is at the centre of virtually every scene. The film opens with her move from an apartment in Barcelona to the rural home of her uncle and aunt after the death of her mother in an AIDS-related pneumonia. She meets a welcoming, caring new family in her uncle and aunt and their 4-year old daughter Anna (played by Paula Robles). Frida is aware of the love that is lavished on the little girl. Many of the scenes are between Frida and Anna, Anna looking up to the older girl, trying to please her, but Frida struggling with her acclimatization in the family. Little is explained, but there is so much to read in the faces and in the reactions to each other!
It becomes a subtle study in how love is received and internalized. Of course, Frida’s emotions are unstable after the loss of her mother. She is displaced, on unfamiliar grounds, suddenly breaking into a loving, tight family. At times she receives their love gladly, at other times she is on her guard, stubborn and sometimes cruel to Anna. Can she be integrated into an entirely new family or does she become a destructive threat?
This film will keep you in its grip for the full 97 minutes. It acknowledges darkness, but it also opens up to light. It teaches us on intimacy and love. I would call it a must-see movie!
Rinus, Sept 2019
*Image & video posted for non commercial purposes
under 'fair use' of copyright material in recommendation of the film
2 Comments
Submit a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Recent Posts
Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop
The Korean writer Hwang Bo-Reum has previously written several essay collections. This is her first novel. The book’s protagonist Yeongju did everything she was supposed to do: Go to university, marry a decent man, get a respectable job. Then it all fell apart. Burned out, she abandons her old life, quits her high-flying career and starts to follow her dream. She opens a bookshop.
The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin
The Music of Bees, debut novel by Eileen Garvin, is a thoughtful, life-affirming story that invites the reader to consider the healing power of community. It is present day rural Oregon; a region dotted with fruit farms as well as other agricultural endeavors.
Films with a Common Theme: Difficulty in Close Relationships
The past week I happened to see three 2025 films that had in common the theme of pains and deficits in close relationships…
How does a family – a community work at and remain open and inclusive to a newcomer? When does pain and loss keep us from receiving and embracing love? Why? What can help love to eventually take root in the heart and grow? I watched my sister and her husband wrestle through these issues and more when they adopted two children a number of years ago. The process was life changing for all of us. I am eager to see this film!
A few weeks ago I watched this film with a group of friends. The pace of the film was very tranquil, and the story itself gave us insight into the challenges of caring for others, along with the hopes and fears of our youth. We came away touched by the photography and acting, along with the value of family, kindness and generosity in times of trouble.