My Summer Of Love Reviews

hypnotic vision of young love and escapism

Set in rural Yorkshire the story focuses on the impressionable Mona and her new found friendship with spoilt rich-kid Tamsin. As the summer progresses so does their relationship, Mona becoming drawn towards Tamsin?s bitter view of life and exacting schoolgirl revenge on the men in their lives. Their eventual progression to lovers is delicately handled and both newcomers Natalie Press & Emily Blunt are excellent in the lead roles. Paddy Considine also giving another edgy performance as Mona?s born-again Christian brother who has turned to God since his release from prison.

Beautifully shot and despite the resemblance to Heavenly Creatures the end result is an hypnotic vision of young love and escapism. Although nothing particularly new and not as powerful as Pawel Pawlikowski?s previous film, Last Resort, this is well worth a watch.

A True British Gem

At last, a British film really worth talking about.

For those of you who despair about our film industry, and how it appears to rely merely on Richard Curtis, Hugh Grant, Bridget Jones and Full Monty (an awful film) ‘type’ clones, a degree of salvation is here.

Albeit very different in both subject and style, ‘My Summer of Love’ is worthy of being bracketed alongside the few true gems to emerge from this country over the last decade, ‘Trainspotting’ and ‘Shaun of the Dead’ to name two.

Like those aforementioned films, “My Summer of Love’ has its own unique style, avoids cliché and should propel the careers of some of those involved to stardom. Both female leads; Natalie Press and Emily Blunt are exceptional in their first major roles, while Paddy Considine as the ‘reformed by Jesus’ ex-criminal continues to concrete his status as arguably Britain’s best newcomer of recent years.

The direction, complemented by a lush Goldfrapp soundtrack helps to create a truly idyllic picture of the Todmorden area of Yorkshire, a place I haven’t visited in years but now feel compelled to return to.

In many ways comparable to the excellent ‘Heavenly Creatures’, which did so much for the careers of Peter Jackson and Kate Winslet, this is another film which may come to be as warmly regarded in retrospect.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Great British film with European feel

A beautiful British film with a Polish director that would be one of my picks for the best films of 2004. Set in Yorkshire, Mona is a typical teenage 'layabout' who meets and befriends a posh girl which plays on fairly standard stereotpyes, however in the hands of a European the film takes on a different look, pace and feel to what you're expecting, rising above the standard cliched 'kitchen sink' and 'gangster' films that we usually get. In many ways it reminded me somewhat of a British period piece.

Give this a go

This could so easily have been pretentious nonsense, but thanks to assured direction and strong performances from Natalie Press and Emily Blunt and the ever reliable Paddy Considine, it emerges as a poignant coming-of-age story.

Revolving around the friendship between two teenage girls from opposite ends of the social spectrum, My Summer of Love is a beautifully shot study of damaged people in a dead end town. Up there with Shaun of the Dead, Dead Man's Shoes and 24 Hour Party People as one of the best British movies of recent years.

Unmissable

The story (literally) of a summer's infatuation between two teenage girls from the opposite ends of the social spectrum, mutual admiration and manipulation, more in one way than the other.

Co-plot of considine as brother of Mona (Press), ex-con but born-again Christian, taking part in painfully uncomfortable prayer meetings. Saw this at the pictures, a great storyline, 3 fantastic acting performances, intense characterisation from Considine and totally believable Northern soul from Nathalie Press.

Most of all this is a masterclass in cinema direction from a very non-Yorkshire Polish director, gets the best out of the actors but captures each shot to perfection, encompassing the beauty and boredom of a teenage British summer. Top ten material. Enjoy.

Watch for 3 Rising Stars of 2007

One of the best British films of this century,extremely well made and photographed, (great northern summery locations), by director Pawloski- no typical Brit Arts Council funded cheap and shoddy production values here.An intense film of troubled teenage passions, a little like Heavenly Creatures. Three outstanding central performances. Shane Meadows regular leading man Paddy Considine (Dead Mans Shoes)is his usual brooding mixed -up self,posh Emily Blunt's debut is so good no wonder a casting director snapped her up for The Devil Wears Prada,mind you for me the stand-out performer is Northern prole Nathalie Press.Somewhat reminiscent of Samantha Morton this girl could be huge on the art-house circuit. Check her also in small role in the excellent Red Road. Images and ideas from this will linger round your noggin.(Thats a good thing,-don't mean your schizoid!)

A real surprise

A very bleak and surprising film. I was expecting an up-beat coming-of-age, romantic film. I wasn't expecting this clever, but very dark story. That said, I enjoyed it very much and got pretty attached to the characters, especially Mona. All the main parts were very well played. There were some great shock moments, as well as real tenderness and freindship. Plus some very funny lines.

Great little film

Superb direction, beautiful cinematography, passionate, meaningful characters, good story and I can't find a hammy moment! The characters are very well observed with great support from Paddy Considine as the ex-brute trying to discover his gentle side through self-enforced religion thwarted by instincts he wishes he could deny. I would thoroughly recommend this film - it will sweep over you like a breath of fresh air. Best British film of 2004, duly recognised by BAFTA.

Great movie

Good cinematography of West Yorkshire, a place normally represented in wet weather and few colours. The story reminded me of Heavenly Creatures in that it has two girls dissatisfied with their existence who take solace in their shared world. Otherwise it's a very different movie. Paddy Considine is again convincing and quite scary as Mona's brother but the strength of the film lies in the performance by Natalie Press. With mischeivous looks and a hoarse voice (albeit not in Natalie's natural accent) she is captivating. My only complaint is that she doesn't have more dialgue, but then it would make her character less mysterious I suppose.

Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant

Perhaps it's the dearth of intelligent British films that makes this so invigorating. It's a rush - beautifully filmed, hazy, lazy, funny and sharp, an excellent screenplay and great performances - Paddy Considine, who everyone's talking about at the moment, is brilliant as the ex-con who's found God, and the conclusion to his part of the story is perfectly pitched and fascinating to watch.