MY SUMMER OF LOVE

UK, 2004, 86 minutes, Colour.
Natalie Press, Emily Blunt, Paddy Considine.
Directed by Pawel Pawlowski.

Pawel Pawlowski is a Polish director who achieved international fame by winning the Oscar for Best Foreign Language film for 2014, Ida. While he worked in his native Poland, he also made several films in the United Kingdom, especially a film about migrants which achieved acclaim, The Last Resort, and this drama about a friendship between two teenagers in the provinces.

The drama is often quite intense, the relationship between the two girls, the touch girl from the pub with her bike that has no motor, Mona, Natalie Press, and the more sophisticated boarding school student, Tamsin, introducing Emily Blunt. While Natalie Press has had a career in Britain, Emily Blunt went on to be an international star, making her mark in The Devil Wears Prada, and winning nominations for her role in Into The Woods.

The film captures the atmosphere of place, with views of the hills, the town, the suburbs, the mansion. In the pub, Mona’s brother is emptying out the alcohol – after a termin prison, where he was born again, he wants to turn the pub into a prayer centre, even raising a huge cross to mark the place. However, he goes through a process of emotional upheaval, with his sister, but, especially, the malevolent behaviour of Tamsin. He is played by Paddy Considine.

The relationship between the two girls is intense, Mona shrewd but somewhat naive and not recognising the manipulative behaviour of Tamsin (who may or may not realise her manipulation herself), her lies about her sister, her attitude towards her father. But she also wants to introduce Mona to culture including classical music and the reading of Nietzsche.

An interesting drama highlighting the emotional relationship as well the hold of each girl on the other.

1. British story? Polish director and perspective?

2. Yorkshire, Lancashire, the countryside, the hills, vistas, the town, the pub, becoming a Revival Centre, wealth and the mansion? The musical score? The use of classics? The focus on Mona, her explaining her name and complaints? Showing her skill in drawing? A portrait of Mona, her age, experience, the relationship with her brother, his criminal past, the clashes, his taking over the pub, emptying the alcohol, wanting a Revival Centre? The family background? Her affair with the married man and his breaking off? The later visit to his house and challenging his wife? Riding a bike, no engine? Her meeting Tamsin, on horseback? The talk, the bond between the two, Tamsin and accompanying Mona? The number of visits? Tamsin and her school, the background, culture, playing the music, quoting the literature, quoting Nietsche? Sharing, affection, love, the sexual attraction? Tamsin and her stories, about her sister, Sadie, about her father, sitting outside the house when he was with his mistress? Mona talking about her brother, the Centre, Pentecostal prayer? Her observing? Not joining in? The occasion of the raising of the cross? The development of the friendship, the visits? The plan to leave? Mona going to the house, Tamsin and her agreeing to go back to school, her father, the mother and packing, discovering that Sadie had not died of anorexia?

3. Tamsin, the contrast, wealth, school, her age, experience, provocative, meeting Mona, bonding with her, the visits, playing the cello, quoting the literature, Nietszche, her father, the death of her sister? In the countryside, the idyllic summer love, the sexual attraction? The raising of the cross? Talking with Mona’s brother, the attraction, his visit to the house, the seductive manner and mocking him?

4. The brother, the background of his being involved in armed robbery, his time in prison, born-again, pouring out the alcohol, wanting the revival Centre, the people coming to the pub, the Pentecostal prayer, talking in tongues, the raising of the cross? The clashes with Mona? Talking with Tamsin, the seduction experience and his reaction, closing the centre, the threat to his faith?

5. Mona, the final visit, seeing the family, seeing Sadie, the disillusionment, Tamsin and coming and explaining the situation, Mona choking her, the gift of the portrait?

6. The experience of the summer of love, love, hurt, disillusionment, what future?