Summer Illusion

The Tree of Life

May 2011 •English

The impressionistic story of a Texas family in the 1950s. The film follows the life journey of the eldest son, Jack, through the innocence of childhood to his disillusioned adult years as he tries to reconcile a complicated relationship with his father. Jack finds himself a lost soul in the modern world, seeking answers to the origins and meaning of life while questioning the existence of faith.

Dog Days

September 2001 •German

Vignettes of the lives of several residents of a Vienna suburb during a heat wave.

One Deadly Summer

May 1983 •French

In spring 1976, a 19-year-old beauty, her German-born mother, and her crippled father move to the town of a firefighter nicknamed Pin-Pon. Everyone notices the provocative Eliane. She singles out Pin-Pon and soon is crying on his shoulder (she's myopic and hates her reputation as a dunce and as easy); she moves in with him, knits baby clothes, and plans their wedding. Is this love or some kind of plot? She asks Pin-Pon's mother and aunt about the piano in the barn: who delivered it on a November night in 1955? Why does she want to know, and what does it have to do with her mother's sorrows, her father's injury, this quick marriage, and the last name on her birth certificate?

Empire of the Sun

December 1987 •English

Jamie Graham, a privileged English boy, is living in Shanghai when the Japanese invade and force all foreigners into prison camps. Jamie is captured with an American sailor, who looks out for him while they are in the camp together. Even though he is separated from his parents and in a hostile environment, Jamie maintains his dignity and youthful spirit, providing a beacon of hope for the others held captive with him.

The Color of Milk

August 2004 •Norwegian

Selma's mother died giving birth to her, and Selma's step aunt is living proof that men only cause trouble. So the 11 year old girl makes a deal with her best friends that they will stay away from boys and dedicate their lives to science. And by the way, Selma was probably born on another planet and not meant to fall in love with anyone. But what happens when her friends break the pact, and she actually meets a boy who's not like the rest?

My Summer of Love

May 2005 •English

In the Yorkshire countryside, working-class tomboy Mona meets the exotic, pampered Tamsin. To seal their friendship, Mona introduces Tamsin to her born-again Christian brother and helps her spy on her adulterous father. Bound together by their secrets, the two girls see their friendship deepen and enter into dangerous waters.

Ebony McQueen

Invalid date •English

A 1960s-early ’70s coming-of-age story inspired by rock legend Dave Stewart’s teen years in the North East of England and the discs and soundtracks that sparked his journey to becoming a musician.

We Have Forever

February 2019 •French

A young man approaching his 20s can either work for his mother in her restaurant or carve his own path and join his friends in Montreal. Before making this decision, he encounters Sara and Léa, two enticing young women who may derail his plans of becoming the greatest chef in the world.

Black & White Duppy

June 2023 •English

On the day of his grandma’s funeral, 17-year-old Red faces multi-generational demons in this surreal horror film exploring colonial trauma and Black family histories.

Growing Pains

July 2019 •English

A short film depicting adolescence.

Wir für immer

July 2024 •German

Sixteen-year-old Jann shields his mother Lina from the outside world in a system that has been established over the years. When Jann falls in love with Selma, who is a year older than him, he is less and less able to keep his family secret. Selma and Jann's love causes his previous world to collapse, but ultimately it also gives him the strength he needs to claim a new place for himself in life.

Lifelines

Invalid date •English

Switching between their surreal perspectives, two high school students attempt to find their purpose as they battle their inner demons and a narcissistic society.

Xiao Lin

May 2021 •Chinese

Every gay person goes through a process of discovering their own identity. Caught between their truest self and the family and societal pressure around them, which should a college student still in the middle of this process choose? Details

FLÜGGE

Invalid date •German

Now and Then

October 1995 •English

Waxing nostalgic about the bittersweet passage from childhood to puberty, four childhood girlfriends — Teeny, Chrissy, Samantha and Roberta — recall the magical summer of 1970. During their walk down memory lane, they reconcile experiences with boys, secrets, bullies and more.

Beautiful Girls

February 1996 •English

During a snowy winter in the small fictional town of Knight's Ridge, Massachusetts, a group of lifelong buddies hang out, drink and struggle to connect with the women who affect their decisions, dreams and desires.

Leo & Lou

Invalid date •Spanish

Micki

September 2023 •English

Sixteen-year-old Micki never met her parents. Raised by her ex-gangster grandfather Pops and crazy Uncle Sal, she develops a scheme to set her family up for life. A simple robbery, a violent loan shark, and a ticking clock. What could go wrong?

Nian

February 2021 •Chinese

A Chinese New Year legend reimagined as a contemporary coming-of-age story.

Dazed and Confused

September 1993 •English

The adventures of a group of Texas teens on their last day of school in 1976, centering on student Randall Floyd, who moves easily among stoners, jocks and geeks. Floyd is a star athlete, but he also likes smoking weed, which presents a conundrum when his football coach demands he sign a "no drugs" pledge.