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United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: French ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( Subtitles ), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Anamorphic Widescreen, Cast/Crew Interview(s), Interactive Menu, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: French director Olivier Assayas (BOARDING GATE, IRMA VEP) subverts expectations with this empathetic drama about the fading relevance of objects as generations pass from one to the next. Helene (Edith Scob) has just turned 75 and is increasingly concerned about the particulars of leaving her estate behind when she dies. Unfortunately, the time comes when Adrienne (Juliette Binoche), Jeremie (Jeremie Renier), and Frederic (Charles Berling) must decide what to do with Helene's house and the artwork left behind by her famous uncle. Adrienne, who is living in New York City, and Jeremie, who is working in Asia, both understand that their future no longer resides in France, leaving the burden to Frederic. However, even when the siblings are at odds, they don't succumb to fighting. They seem to understand and accept that this is an unfortunate, muddled situation, and as much as they'd love to hold on to the house, it appears that their current situations carry more of an influence than the lives of their nostalgic past. ...Summer Hours ( L' Heure d'été )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
L'Heures d'Ete (Summer Hours) is a gentle story about how a family's priorities change over time.
Juliette Binoche is splendid as one of the adult siblings; she looks about 10 years younger than her passport would suggest (aided by a bold hair lightening, which, whilst quite a surprise, certainly takes the years off). Her character is light and humerous (another departure), and the story slightly sad, but inevitable and by no means cloying.
Definitely European in feel (wordy, thoughtful, a little slow) but without the artsyness or angst that can be a little too heavy in continental movies. Refreshing to see a current film with not a single special effect or product placement.
Juliette Binoche is splendid as one of the adult siblings; she looks about 10 years younger than her passport would suggest (aided by a bold hair lightening, which, whilst quite a surprise, certainly takes the years off). Her character is light and humerous (another departure), and the story slightly sad, but inevitable and by no means cloying.
Definitely European in feel (wordy, thoughtful, a little slow) but without the artsyness or angst that can be a little too heavy in continental movies. Refreshing to see a current film with not a single special effect or product placement.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a thought provoking, introspective, carefully observed movie by writer-director Olivier Assayas. The film was made to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Musee d'Orsay. You will see the old, elegant French furniture and paintings (Corot, Monet)and large sketches by Odilon Redon, which are loans for the film from the Musee d'Orsay. I fell in love with Juliette Binchoe's character who is a terrifyingly chic designer living in New York. Above all, Charles Berling is fantastic in that film. He loves his mother house, objects, paintings and his heritage. He is the representation of Francophile in this film. He wants to protect the valuable artefacts in family collection because they are apart of his family identity and connection. He thinks that they are also essential for the future generation of his family. He wants to preserve this. But his siblings disagree! The film explores the idea of ownership & how private paintings and artefacts become museums collection. Only French could make this kind of drama. I would highly recommend this film.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Cinéma vérité? That's what 'Summer Hours' seeks to be... a carefully crafted exploration of real people's lives. But, despite the excellent acting, intriguing story and beautiful cinema-photography the problem is that the film fails to explore the reasons why the characters feel the way they do. You want to know why, but it doesn't really tell you - there's no context to their emotions. For example, a man breaks down because his family home and all that it means to him is about to be lost, but there's insufficient evidence of why this means so much to him to make you engage in his, superbly acted, reaction. And, without this it just drifts along... leaving you thinking that there's a much better film below the surface trying to get out. 'Paris', with its similarly slow, 'true to life' storyline shows just how good this type of subtle French cinema (and Juliette Binoche) can be in the hands of the right director, but 'Summer Hours' isn't much more than a languidly enjoyable example of how not to do it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
i loved this film
it is very good and its one of those that you wish you could get everyone to rave abouts
have kept it for another chilled afternoon infront of a good film
have kept it for another chilled afternoon infront of a good film
Published 27 days ago by Gail B
definitely the most boring film I have ever watched
I agree with every word of the reviewer who called it "the candidate for the most boring film". It really is just about mum duying and her siblings politely discussing the... Read more
Published 2 months ago by A Customer
Summer Hours
This is a superb modern example of what French cinema seems to do best - pull the viewer into the specific world of urban family life in all its complexities. Read more
Published 11 months ago by La Marais
Gentle, intelligent examination of family, generations and inheritance
Interesting, gentle sad (but not depressing) story of the inevitability of loss and chance.
Three siblings decide whether to keep or sell their mother's country home and... Read more
Three siblings decide whether to keep or sell their mother's country home and... Read more
Published 11 months ago by K. Gordon
Summer Hours
This is a delicious film. It portrays one aspect of how globalization affects culture, family life, and one's view of the world. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Virginia B. Keyder
Mysteries of family life
If & when their elderly mother dies, three siblings - grown up & leading busy independent lives - will have to decide whether the beautiful family home in the country & its... Read more
Published 13 months ago by HJ
sensitive and moving
This French film about siblings deciding the fate of an inheritance (a house with its collection of Art Nouveau furniture, and two Impressionist paintings) reminded me of the... Read more
Published 13 months ago by melpomene
A perfect day
Assayas,director of the monumental Carlos,with its worldly references,here shows he is also able to direct a quieter fictional film of the power of memories and the beauty of... Read more
Published 14 months ago by technoguy
Candidate for most boring film
This film is simply about Mum dying & three siblings politely debating the sharing of her estate. One son wants to keep the house for the three of them & their children to visit &... Read more
Published 14 months ago by chas-g
A little known gem, losing nothing in translation
A little known but perfect film, well deserving of the international awards it won in 2009. Each move, each gesture and intonation, each clearly heard silent thought strikes a... Read more
Published on 15 April 2010 by Mary Lynn Richardson
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