Lush and sensuous, this period drama will be right at home with art house fans, though may be a bit unhurried for cineplex-type viewers.
Set in 1938 Turin, Italy, 1938. Ginia, a young woman and her brother, have moved from the country to see if they can strike it big in the city. The film’s producers mention that the story lies in the shadow of a rising fascistic government, but we don’t see anything that references that, apart from a brief radio blurb that Gina quickly turns off.
Which leaves us with a story of self-discovery; first love and first sexual experience (not necessarily with the same person) and a journey from innocence into adulthood for the main character.
Excelling as a talented seamstress, Ginia finds that she has a knack for design as well, and finds herself in the company of a model who poses in cool clothes, but mostly in the nude for local artists, of which there are many. The model, Amelia (a striking Deva Cassel) instantly fascinates Ginia (Yile Yara Vianello gives an understated, captivating performance).
It’s an age of realization and heartbreak and growth, and the film presents them all with subtle but naturalistic turns from the cast. But, yeah, it’s rather slow-paced. For me, that’s not a deal-breaker if I am interested in the characters and where they’re going next. And I was.
The Beautiful Summer premieres on VOD and Digital August 9th
