Maja arrives on a picturesque Croatian island seeking answers about her family history. What she finds instead is a lively community with colorful characters and natural beauty that could easily distract from her mission.
There’s the charming and eccentric Mayor Icho, whose love for his small island home is matched only by his passion for mischief. Ancient stone buildings dot the island, along with winding paths that invite exploration.
Maja soon learns the simple pleasures of island life, from leisurely strolls along the coastline to gatherings with close-knit locals, led by boisterous songs. Her duties at the mayor’s harborside pub place her at the lively heart of the island.
But amidst these summer charms, darker secrets also lurk concerning the family she never truly knew. When an attraction grows between Maja and a charming visiting writer, complications arise that could undo the sense of belonging she has started to find.
Through it all, the natural splendor of this remote Adriatic setting becomes another unforgettable character, drawing Maja ever deeper into its charms and mysteries.
Maja’s Mission and the Island’s Colourful Locals
We learn Maja has traveled to Prvić in search of answers about her late father, a sea captain she never truly knew. Her grandmother hinted at a connection before passing, leaving Maja to wonder if Jakša was truly her father after all. With no other family, she is determined to prove her rightful claim to part of his estate.
Finding short-term lodging proves difficult at the peak of tourist season. Thankfully, the charming Mayor Icho offers Maja a job and room at his harborfront pub in exchange. Icho helms the small island community with equal parts humor and passion, whether settling disputes or advocating sewage upgrades. His close friend Nediljko often aids his schemes, for better or worse.
At the bustling pub, Maja’s no-nonsense work wins her respect. She soon crosses paths with Saša, a novelist drawn to the island for nostalgia’s sake while rebuilding his waterfront home. Their attraction grows evident despite complications in both their pasts. Meanwhile, the elderly partisan firing sporadically from above adds island color.
Over time, we see Maja restoring connections to her heritage through the townsfolk’s stories. Phone calls from her anxious mother also fill gaps in familial history. Though tentative at first, Maja comes to feel at home on Prvić through its people. Her mission evolves from simply a property claim into a deeper self-discovery and sense of identity. Steadily, she asserts herself as a strong leader whose warmth and wit draw both laughs and sympathy.
Expressive Performances Bring the Characters to Life
Tanović demonstrates a deft comedic touch in lightening his directorial style from grittier early works. The result allows complex characters to breathe with humor, drama, and heart in equal measure. Anja Matković seizes the opportunity, painting Maja as a living, longing woman with command of both laughs and tears. Her chemistry with co-star Fehmiu glows in romantic scenes filmed with tender care.
Goran Navojec likewise shines as Icho, imbuing the lively mayor with wit, compassion, and spirited passion for his adored island community. Whether settling disputes or serenading his crops, Navojec ensures this colorful patron remains endearingly authentic. Tanović clearly relishes drawing out his cast’s gifts, cultivating fullness in every role, no matter their prominence.
Behind the scenes too, the director’s touch feels nurturing. He frames intimate moments so casually overheard that one feels part of the fabric yet respects privacy. His direction flawlessly captures the erratic rhythms of island life through voyeuristic yet vivid glimpses. Most of all, Tanović elicits truth from his performers, letting naturalism shine through without artifice.
In embracing each character’s quirks and dreams, the cast and crew collaborate to form a living, breathing world. Their collective authenticity leaves an impression as lasting as Prvić’s salty breezes and stony haunts. Together, they breathe soul into “My Late Summer,” so it lingers warmly like a happy memory revisited.
Capturing the Island’s Sights and Soul
Miloš Jaćimović brings Prvić to life through his energetic yet sensitive camerawork. With seemingly effortless sweeps, he transports viewers to this faraway place. His roving shots immerse us in island rhythms just as Maja experiences them. Whether documenting the rugged coastline’s dance with the waves or glimpsing lives through windows, Jaćimović finds poetry in everyday details.
Standouts include framing Maja within archways cast in morning light, conveying her journey from outsider to belonging. An image of the partisan statue towering over shoreline homes expresses the past’s lingering role. And fluid tracking of festivals’ frenetic energy makes us feel included in island revelry.
Just as vital, Veronika Radman’s production design fleshes out Prvić. Authentic local signs and shopfronts lend credible texture without feeling staged. Interiors reflect lived-in personalities while maintaining historic flavors. These elements, combined with Jaćimović’s seamless realism, bring the island to life as a fully-formed character in its own right almost as much as the human players.
Together, their talents ferry viewers to this remote realm, where we become absorbed in its tranquil rhythms. Through relatable characters and spellbinding scenery, “My Late Summer” immerses us in seasons of joy, longing, and belonging that linger long after, like warm memories of the summertime past.
Maja’s Search for Belonging
Questions of identity and heritage drive Maja to Prvić’s shores. Seeking answers about the father she never knew, she hopes to better understand herself. But amidst the locals’ quirks and charms, her mission evolves from a legal battle into a personal journey of discovery.
The tight-knit community offers a ready sense of belonging despite Maja’s outsider status. She comes to appreciate their easy intimacy, special rituals, and protectiveness of their island home. Maja finds reflections of her own search in Icho’s adoration of his domain and longing to preserve local virtues.
Nostalgia too permeates the lives around her as she encounters expat Saša and others drawn by youthful memories. But nostalgia carries its own doubts: will the past live up to recollection? Is home more than a romanticized idea? These questions echo Maja’s own, driving her to understand not just her father but her mother’s experiences in this very place.
Through island dances, folktales, and the intimacy of everyday greetings, Maja pieces together her heritage and what drew preceding generations to these shores. By the film’s end, she discovers a richer picture of her identity and family bonds, belonging as fully to Prvić’s rhythms as any native. Maja’s story pays tribute to life’s circular nature and how we find ourselves by understanding those who came before.
When Comedy and Drama Clash
While “My Late Summer” largely succeeds in blending laughs and feels, it occasionally struggles switching between genres. The pace zips along delightfully in comedic moments but slows awkwardly upon turning dramatic. Some tonal transitions feel too abrupt.
Romantic scenes risk veering corny without Tanović’s usual deft comedic touch to spice chemistry. Certain melodramatic beats overplay emotions without grounding them organically in character relationships first established. This disconnect leaves some acting, especially peripheral roles, grasping for depth not fully realized on page.
The film’s subtle social commentary and eccentric community may resonate deeply locally yet prove less globally relatable. Regional idioms risk getting lost in translation for outsiders. Tanović seems aware his strengths lie in entertaining at home rather than wowing abroad, adjusting ambitions accordingly.
Regardless, sumptuous visuals and capable leads largely overshadow minor narrative imperfections. One forgives stumbles given the jaw-dropping natural beauty framing them or charm found elsewhere, like Goran Navojec’s inimitable mayor. Technical polish throughout ensures any flaws remain minor quibbles amidst mostly winning regional entertainment for its target mature audience. While hardly a masterwork, this ‘Late Summer’ brings more warmth than cool cynicism.
Prvić’s Undeniable Charms
Despite some uneven patches, “My Late Summer” largely charms as a nuanced character piece. Care of Tanović’s visual prowess and natural performances, the island of Prvić comes alive as vividly as any character. Anja Matković shines in painting Maja’s journey with humor, heartache, and resilience in equal measure.
While certain flourishes risk losing global audiences, the film strikes local chords that resonate deeply. Its charm pulls one into the island’s rhythms and mysteries as fully as Maja herself immerses. Lightness and feeling intertwine to form a moving whole greater than any minor part.
Even with modest aims, this picaresque captures that indefinable magic of summer’s end. Its scenes linger like nostalgic memories to be revisited, reminding us that life’s discoveries often arrive through appreciating each other’s stories. Though its charms fade, “My Late Summer” instills warmth to last the season through. Prvić’s undeniable allure ensures this regional delight deserves wider appreciation.
The Review
My Late Summer
In digesting this film's varied strengths and flaws, "My Late Summer" emerges as a poignant character study with atmosphere to spare. Despite some erratic changes in tone, Tanović's deft touch paired with stellar island visuals and natural performances make this satisfying regional entertainment.
PROS
- Beautiful cinematography that transports viewers to Prvić
- Nuanced performances, particularly from Matković in the lead role
- Poignant exploration of themes like identity, belonging, and family
- Humorous and heartfelt moments that balance comedy and drama
- Authentic feeling for the Croatian island community
CONS
- Uneven pacing as genres shift between comedy and melodrama
- Some romantic or dramatic scenes feel forced, lacking nuanced buildup.
- Intended international appeal may be limited by localized humor.
- Supporting roles aren't as fully realized as the protagonists.
