My Summer Of Love [DVD] [2004]

The film is a coming-of-age story based on Helen Cross' poignant novel. Working-class Mona (Press) is struggling to cope with the changing nature of her existence, following her mother's death and the release of her brother from prison - now a born-again Christian who has turned their pub into a religious retreat and is making a giant cross to cleanse their quiet Yorkshire village of evil. Tamsin (Blunt) has similar problems of disillusionment, isolation and family resentment but is from a very different social tier - she is rich, spoilt and finding the long, hot summer a frightful bore.

I sat down to watch this film with the full intention of hating it, but was absorbed by the subtly seductive, hypnotic brilliance of this engaging love story between two young women. You feel a real bond and sincere respect between the two lead characters, at times comical and at others desperately sad. They make the most unlikely of pairs - in one scene we find Tamsin sitting in her mansion playing The Swan on her Double Bass, whilst Mona jokes that she lives above The Swan (name of the aforementioned pub).

This film is many things - it is an intimate story of sexual desire, a religious epitaph, a surreal comedy, but ultimately My Summer Of Love is a story that deals with the harsh realities of life. The imagery is at times uncomfortable; showing you only what you need to see whilst never hiding anything. It is in this that part of the films brilliance and charm lies. It is often graphic but never crass. Sombre yet humorous. Abstract but real. It plays on clichés yet is utterly unpredictable; I've never seen a garden gnome used in such a constructive manner.

Financed by BBC films and written and directed by the hugely talented former BBC documentary-maker Pawel Pawlikowski (The Last Resort), My Summer Of Love is the best British film I have seen, possibly ever. Pawlikowski's use of the camera in exploiting the fine performances of the two young brits is beautiful - perfectly complimented by a lush setting and Goldfrapp's eerie soundtrack. It captures a credible view of life in a dead-end town.

You may read the films synopsis and feel suitably uninspired, but please shed any doubts and don't miss this original and thought-provoking tale - something rare in a world of predictable plots and uninspired Hollywood cash-ins.

The story plays somewhat like a Shakespearean Tragedy in the way that it doesn't make you ask 'What happens?' It makes you ask 'When?'. Not to say that this predictability takes anything away from the film... it probably adds to it, leaving the viewer feeling the gut wrenching hopelessness that is prevalent within each of the central characters at various points throughout.

Mona (Natalie Press) is an orphan and practically alone since her brother's (Paddy Considine) release from jail and his rebirth under Christianity. Although to many his transformation would seem to be a vast improvement from his old, abusive self, he leaves Mona feeling cold who is sceptical of his new ways and is screaming out for some familiarity "I want my Brother back" she cries.

An introduction to boarding school pupil, Tamsin (Emily Blunt) is like a ray of sunshine in Mona's life and the two quickly begin to form a close friendship. There are a lot of similarities in the two girls with lonliness being the biggest bond. Tamsin also feels neglected by her father who demonstrates his distance at an early stage in the film by failing to notice that Tamsin has a new friend.

As the film progresses, however, the differences in the girls start to become more apparent. Tamsin lacks the love of her father she craves, but she has a wild imagination to make up for it... not to mention a lack of financial concerns. This contrasts firmly with the realism and hope that Mona feels and it is not long before we suss out who is the more needy in the relationship. Sexual experimentation is very different to love and the intimacy is enjoyed by both girls but seen as something very different by each.

The ending of the film follows a more unpredictable path but is suitable and just as closure to Mona's summer of love.

I highly recommend this to fans of Paddy Considine and those who like a more introverted approach to their film watching.