SUMMER LOVERS
US, 1982, 98 minutes, Colour.
Peter Gallagher, Daryl Hannah, Valerie Quinessen, Barbara Rush.
Directed by Randall Kleiser.
Summer Lovers is a glossy exploitive movie written and directed by Randall Kleiser, who made a number of telemovies but came to success with his direction of Grease and The Blue Lagoon with Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins. He purports to tell the story of American tourists, the younger generation, enjoying the sun and freedom of the Greek Isles. The emphasis is on sun, sand and water - with plenty of sexuality and nudity. It is all put together with music from many contemporary singers and popular songs - with some of the lyrics adapted for the action of the film.
Some reviewers have seen it as "a paean to limitless hedonism" or a questioning of the role of monogamy. It certainly shows the rather inhibited Americans, the innocents abroad in Europe, encountering the experience of the Europeans, especially in moral values. The couple adopt a French girl and set up a menage a trois. Commentators have noted that the relationship between the two girls is explored far better than the relationship with the boy. Daryl Hannah, who appeared as one of the replicants in Blade Runner, is the heroine. Peter Gallagher, the second idol of The Idolmaker, is the hero and Valerie Quenesson (the Princess in Conan the Barbarian) is the European archaeologist. There is a guest role by Barbara Rush, who had appeared in Kleiser's short film for his thesis at U.C.L.A. Synthetic American film-making of the permissive kind.
1. Interesting, entertaining? Youth film? Exploitation? For what audience?
2. Colour photography, gloss? The introduction to holiday-makers going to Greece? Greece and its beauty? The focus on the villages, mountains, water, beaches? Nightlife of the Greek Islands in the summer? The natural beauty, the invasion of the tourists? Exploitation? Editing and colour?
3. The songs and their selection? The range from the '70s and '80s? As background, mood? Lyrics related to action?
4. How realistic the plot? How contrived? Fantasy/lreality of freedom? The Greek tradition of nature, sun, warmth? The focus on the body, nudity? Sex and values? Holiday reality? American innocents abroad in Europe?
5. The introduction to Michael and Kathy: arrival. American background? Ideas of freedom? Inhibited in fact? Their relationship? Living together? Letters home? The visit of Kathy's mother and her friend and the repercussions? Expectations, values? The challenge and change? What happened to them - for better. for worse? The freeze frame leap at the end? Temporary ending - permanent?
6. Michael as hero: his relationship to Kathy, freedom, his eyes being opened? The fascination with Lina and observing her (as did the audience from his point of view)? Following her, the encounter on the beach, nude swimming, the swimming, the sexuality? His reaction, hers? Communication and lack of communication? Moodiness? His change of attitude towards Kathy?
7. Kathy as the ordinary American girl? Love for Michael? Setting up house, enjoying the holiday? Suspicions, jealousy, the possibility of the one night stand with the Greek young man - and her inability to do it? Lina and her impact on Michael, her being followed, cool and controlled, the sexual encounter and her casual approach? The detail of her work and sophistication?
9. Kathy's encounter with Lina. the visit. their friendship? The threesome? In ordinary situations, sexually? Lina’s moving in? The change of ideas, feelings? The detail of their life together - outings, the humour of the meals, especially with Michael's cooking? Michael and his relationship with each of the girls? The girls relating to each other - with more depth? The yachting party? The birthday party and the mess?
10. Kathy's mother's arrival, her friend? Their reaction to the seeming permissiveness? The meal together? The repercussions of the visit?
11. The cruise, the drag queen, the variety of sexual expression? Nightlife, dancing? Motor bikes and the accident? The film set on the beach?
12. Lina and her independence? Going off with the young man? The repercussions on Kathy and Michael and their inability to cope?
13. Leaving, packing up, the bare house? Lina’s arrival by bike at the airport and their not leaving? The final image?
14. To what purpose the film? The comment about limitless hedonism, monogamy, freedom, inhibitions - or experimentation and the non-permanent Summer Lovers?
