A Summer Story (1988)

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

The eighties and nineties were perhaps the Golden Age of the British "heritage cinema" movement, and "A Summer Story" from 1988 is a good example. Although the film is based on a story by John Galsworthy, it is reminiscent of the work of Thomas Hardy, both in its West Country setting and in its use of themes and devices which are typical of Hardy, such as love between people of different social standing and a chance mishap or misunderstanding which prevents a crucial meeting between the lovers. In the summer of 1904 Frank Ashton, a young London barrister, on a walking holiday on Dartmoor with a friend, falls and twists his ankle. While staying at a nearby farmhouse to recover, he meets the owner's attractive young niece, Megan David. (Galsworthy may have been influenced by Hardy's "On the Western Circuit", which also deals with a young barrister who falls for a village girl). The two fall in love and Ashton promises to take Megan back to London with him and marry her. Lacking money for the journey, however, he travels to the nearby seaside town of Torquay to cash a cheque at a bank. While in Torquay, however, a chance meeting with an old friend and his sister Stella, who are staying in the town, changes matters dramatically. Ashton finds himself attracted to Stella and realises that he has the chance of marriage to someone from his own social class. There is a particularly fine performance from the lovely Imogen Stubbs as Megan. (This is one of Imogen's rare film appearances; she has generally concentrated more on stage and television work). In financial terms, marriage to Ashton would probably be advantageous to Megan, at least in the long term. At the start of his career, he is not particularly wealthy, but as a qualified lawyer he has much greater earning potential than any of the men in Megan's small Devon village, including her other suitor, her loutish cousin Joe Narracombe. Yet in order to achieve financial stability Megan would be required to make a great sacrifice in psychological terms, giving up the security of her family and native village to move to London where she would be a fish out of water, her rustic accent and lack of education setting her apart from the wives of her husband's friends and colleagues. Yet, knowing all this, she still loves Ashton unconditionally. If Helena Bonham Carter was Britain's reigning queen of costume drama during this period, the James Wilby was probably the king. (He also appeared in the likes of "Maurice", "A Handful of Dust", "Howard's End", "Regeneration" and "Gosford Park"). He is not convincing as the older Ashton- that grizzled beard, more appropriate to a man in his sixties or seventies, stuck to his boyish face, does nothing to persuade us that his character is now middle-aged. As the younger man, however, he is very good. Ashton may be Frank by name but he is not frank by nature. Megan is the heroine of the film, albeit a tragic one, but Ashton is not its hero, as he is not the stuff of which heroes are made. Put to the test he proves a broken reed. Apart from the scenes in fashionable Torquay, the film lacks the visual beauty and elaborate costumes often associated with heritage cinema, especially the work of the Merchant-Ivory team. Its visual look is more sombre, appropriate both to the humble social status of its heroine and to its tragic theme. In this respect it reminded me of another tragic period drama from a few years later, Michael Winterbottom's "Jude", based upon Hardy's "Jude the Obscure". "A Summer Story" is today probably less well-known than most of Merchant-Ivory's output, or even "Jude", and it only occasionally turns up on television. Yet with its own beauty and a moving storyline it is one of those excellent British movies from the eighties ("Absolute Beginners" and "The Chain" are others) that is overdue for a revival. 8/10

I have seen this movie only once, about 20 years ago, on television and ever since, it has struck a chord with me. The very recollection of the film brings me to tears. An extremely well directed film, and equally good performances by Imogen Stubbs and James Wilby. The film scored very high in other departments as well, photography, music, direction and what not. My only regret is that I have not been able to see it again, as it is not available on VCD, nor has been telecast (to my knowledge) in my country again. I only wish I could have this film on VCD so that I could see it whenever I wish. I would strongly recommend this film to anyone who enjoys good cinema. The film has a sad end, but that is how it should be. I understand that short story (Apple Tree) on which this film is based, had a different end. Surely, it could not have been better.

I am happy to know that I am not the only person this movie had a profound effect on. How can it be so good and yet so many people have no clue about it.I saw it around the year it came out. I was living in Toronto and I can't remember whether or not it came to the theatres but late one night I looked at it on the movie Channel. I was bored and had nothing else to do. Fantastic movie, the ending was so sad.For years I would recommend this film to friends and nobody would really know what I was talking about. For months after I had seen the film I would think about it and the way it ended.I have never forgotten the name Imogen Stubbs. I looked out for her for years. I saw her in one film with Robert Duvall but nothing after that. I was always on the look out for her in the nineties. A few years ago I looked her up on the net and found out she had more or less married and settled down. This movie and Imogen Stubbs had a profound effect on me. A great romantic tragedy that far too few people know about.Veersen

I watch this gem about twice a year, when I feel like having a good cry. This film truly transports me to another time and place.There are timeless morality issues dealt with in the story, and the unforgettable ending gives a person goose bumps. Seeing the film inspired me to read the story it's adapted from(The AppleTree.) There are some differences between the story and the film, of course, and the endings are somewhat different, although the overall idea is on the same wavelength. I feel the ending of the film is very,very strong and extremely suited to the film genre as compared to the written page.The music is exquisite. Not only does it cast a beautiful spell from the very first note, but it remains in your mind long after the film is over.A precious, precious film.