SUMMER DAYS, SUMMER NIGHTS/SUMMERTIME

US, 2018, 123 minutes, Colour.

Pico Alexander, Lindsay Morgan, Anthony Ramos, Amadeus Serafini, Caitlin Stasey, Rita Volk, Edward Burns, Zoe Levin.

Directed by Edward Burns.

For more than two decades, Edward Burns has contributed very personalised films, perspectives on ordinary American life (although opening up at times to a wider world, New York gangster world, for instance, Ash Wednesday). But, mostly, he focuses on families, family relationships, joy, tensions. And this is the case here.

We are in Long Island, Memorial Day, 1982, an opening which introduces us to a wide range of characters, lay teenagers, finishing high school, working for the summer, prospects for the future. No one really emerges as the centre except for JJ Flynn, played by Pico Alexander. He is an anchor with his own story, relationships, uncertainties, and his relationship with his father, played by Edward Burns.

Also in the cast is Anthony Ramos in an early role, later to emerge with In the Heights and Transformers, Rise of the Beast.

Very American, perhaps too American for wider audiences but eliciting some memories of now long ago decades.

1. Memories of the 1980s? Summer? Memorial Day?
2. Location, the town, the beach, homes, clubs, bars? The range of the musical score and memories of the 1980s?
3. The films of Edward Burns, writing, directing, performing? Over decades, his porter of people, families, New York?
4. The introduction, the range of characters, their age, high school, prospects, summer behaviour, relationships, questions? The teenage generation? The parent generation?
5. The characters:

JJ, age, high school, leaving, prospects, meeting girls, the rich girlfriend, his other friends, confiding, talking, testing? His work, relationship with his father? Father’s advice?                                                      

             Terry, the summer, music, composing, relationships, older?          

             Susie, personality, returning, relationship with Frankie, his relationships? Ups and downs and                                  the relationship?

Miller, Lydia, outgoing, advice?

Debbie, relationship with Terry?

6. The forthrightness of each of the characters, their emotions, on their sleeves, expressing them, audience sympathy, with younger audiences, with the parent generation? On older audiences looking back with memories?
7. Work during the day, encounters, sexual relationships, tentative, forthright, exposing personalities, strengths, limitations? The block party? The fireworks?
8. Edward Burns and his contribution to perspectives of Americana?