SUMMER RAIN is a lushly romantic, beautifully crafted paean to young men coming of age in Malaga, southern Spain in the 1970s.
The film follows the lives of three young men - Miguelito (Amarilla), Paco (Gomez), and Babirusa (Arevalo) - each of whom must confront his past, as well as his future, while indulging in the expected pursuits of youth on the threshold of adulthood, especially, of course, love and sex. For Miguelito, the nascent poet, this centres on one girl in particular: Luli (Ruiz). And as each discovers what life’s erratic fortunes have in store for him, they must venture forth, leaving this past and their youthful indiscretions behind.
Based on an award-winning novel written by Banderas’s childhood friend, Antonio Soler, SUMMER RAIN pulses with a very personal lyricism that takes us into a fading, but vibrant, past. Painterly in its vision, evocatively and emotive, SUMMER RAIN is marked by terrific performances from the ensemble cast and the eye-catching visual style of the impressive Banderas, in only his second feature as director.
Drama Spain 2006 118mins (18+)
Directed by Antonio Banderas
With Alberto Amarilla, María Ruiz, Raúl Arévalo, Victoria Abril, Juan Diego,
Official Selection: Sundance Film Festival 2007,
Official Selection Berlin International Film Festival
Winner Label Europa Cinema (best European film in Panorama Section of Berlin)
Nominated for 2007 Goya for best new actor and best adapted screenplay