As our lives consist of many “in-between” states, this is probably why these have been so popular on literature, film as well as music. A transition always carries the magic of becoming somebody new or different, which is precisely why they offer endless possibilities for storytellers, as this state can be quite destructive or life-affirming and productive. Especially when it comes to the end of a relationship, this condition can not only take many forms, but also decide how one does proceed from here on. In the work of director and editor Thy Tran, the importance of change and transition has become an integral part of his work, for example in his second short feature “Metamorphosis” about the train of thought of an artist and his work. With his latest film “SummerWinterSummer” he tells the story of a young man trying to get over his last relationship, and what might come next.
SummerWinterSummer is screening at Viet Film Fest
After the break-up with his last boyfriend Martin (Tim Torre), Vietnamese-American Duy (Edmund Truong) is somewhat restless and doesn't quite know how to get over the loss. As he is unable to find sleep, he mostly wanders the nightly streets of Los Angeles trying to find some kind of connection with someone else, resulting in a few one-night-stands which leave all the more dissatisfied and frustrated. Following another one of those encounters with a man, he embarks on a journey in his mind, re-visiting the stages of his last relationship, from beginning to the end, in an attempt to figure out what went wrong.
Considering the protagonist wanders the streets of L.A. at night and engages in various memories, so does Thy Tran's feature seem quite aimless as well. While the frequent flashbacks may be the cause of some confusion at first, from the moment you understand Duy's situation, not only do the various pieces of the puzzle fall into place, but you feel a connection to him and what he is going through. Even though not as experimental as his last feature, “SummerWinterSummer” tackles the idea of transition with a similar focus, highlighting how the stage, painful as it may be, is perhaps integral for the person to change and become someone else. The fact this link to the viewer is achieved is not only due to the director's approach to storytelling, but also his task, most importantly Tim Torre and Edward Truong, who not only share a believable chemistry, but whose performances are quite natural and heartfelt.
In conclusion, “SummerWinterSummer” is an engaging short feature about love, loss and transition. Thanks to his creative approach and his cast, director Thy Tran manages to tell a story which will certainly captivate and move his audience.
