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Summering

Summering is a coming-of-age drama film co-written by and , directed and produced by Ponsoldt. It stars newcomers Lia Barnett, Sanai Victoria, Eden Grace Redfield, and as four inseparable best friends, alongside supporting performances from , , , and . The film explores themes of childhood's end, friendship, and personal growth through the lens of a pivotal summer adventure. Set in a suburban neighborhood during the last weekend of summer before , Summering follows the protagonists—Dina, , , and —as they grapple with the impending changes of . What begins as carefree playtime escalates into a quest involving and self-discovery, forcing the girls to confront fears about growing up, family dynamics, and their unbreakable bond. With a runtime of 87 minutes and a PG-13 for , the movie blends elements of drama and light suspense. Premiering at the on January 22, 2022, Summering received a in the United States on August 12, 2022, distributed by . Critics offered mixed responses, commending the authentic portrayals by the young leads but noting issues with pacing and overly sentimental scripting; it holds a 34% approval rating on based on 65 reviews, with a consensus describing it as a "harmless enough " amid a crowded genre. On , it scores 4.5 out of 10 from user ratings. Despite the reception, the film was selected for the Sundance Kids program, highlighting its appeal to younger audiences exploring transitional life stages.

Plot and themes

Plot summary

Summering follows four close friends—Dina, Lola, Mari, and Daisy—as they navigate the final weekend of summer before starting in their suburban neighborhood. The girls, on the cusp of , spend their days reflecting on their changing lives and the potential strain on their due to attending different schools. Anxious about growing up, they gather at their secret spot in the woods, known as Terabithia, where they share dreams and fears about the future. The story's central adventure begins when the group makes a startling discovery in the woods near their hideout, prompting them to investigate further and turning their lazy days into a quest for answers. Motivated by curiosity and a desire to hold onto their innocence, they venture through the neighborhood, exploring abandoned areas and seeking clues that lead them into unfamiliar territories. Along the way, they encounter quirky adults, including a at a local , whose interactions highlight the girls' resourcefulness and the adult world's detachment from their concerns. As the weekend unfolds, personal tensions surface, particularly for , who grapples with her family's instability, including her father's absence, which mirrors the broader uncertainties of transition. The group's bond is tested under the pressure of their escapade, fostering moments of and that deepen their understanding of and . Through these events, the film captures the essence of leaving childhood behind.

Themes

Summering explores the end of childhood through its depiction of four pre-teen girls confronting the inevitable transition to , symbolizing broader and the loss of . The film portrays this shift as a time of profound uncertainty, where the carefree days of summer give way to fears of separation and the unknown realities of . As one notes, the girls dread "the separation that will come not just as their break ends, but as they head to different s and leave childhood, and possibly their behind." This theme is underscored by their oscillation between and world-weariness, capturing the emotional turbulence of growing up. Central to the narrative is the theme of female friendship and , which provides a counterbalance to the personal crises the girls face, including parental and the challenges of . Their bond serves as a source of strength amid instability, such as absent fathers, allowing them to navigate emotional turmoil together. The film presents this as a story, emphasizing how shared experiences foster and mutual support during vulnerable times. Reviewers highlight the "strength and fragility of female bonds," illustrating how these relationships help the protagonists assert their and define themselves in the face of change. The subtle horror-fantasy elements in the girls' mystery adventure further symbolize their internal emotional struggles, blending eerie undertones with dreamlike sequences to represent deeper fears and turmoil. These fantastical aspects, such as hallucinations, externalize the psychological impact of and , transforming personal anxieties into a metaphorical landscape. As described, the girls use their imaginations as a tool to cope, where "eerie, fantastical undertones" add layers to their experiences of and transition. This approach dignifies their inner lives, portraying emotional chaos through symbolic rather than literal .

Cast and production

Cast

The main cast of Summering features four young actresses portraying the close-knit group of best friends on the cusp of . Lia Barnett plays Daisy, the reflective and introspective leader of the group who grapples with her sense of identity and seeks reinvention amid personal transitions. portrays Dina, the sophisticated and intellectual "brain" of the , offering logical insights and resourcefulness to balance the group's dynamics. Eden Grace Redfield stars as , the anxious and vulnerable member who brings emotional depth through her worries about upcoming changes like a new school environment. Sanai Victoria depicts Lola, the spiritual and philosophical counterpart who provides introspective perspectives and often engages in thoughtful debates with her friends. In supporting roles, the film highlights the girls' family and community influences through established performers. appears as Laura, Daisy's mother, embodying a nurturing yet distracted parental figure in the suburban setting. plays Stacie, Mari's mother, adding a layer of eccentric maternal energy to the story's domestic backdrop. portrays Karna, Dina's mother, contributing a grounded, everyday presence to the neighborhood ensemble. rounds out key adults as Joy, a perceptive neighbor who observes and subtly interacts with the young protagonists' world.

Production development

Summering originated as a project conceived by director , who co-wrote the screenplay with author . The collaboration began with a shared interest in exploring the transitional phase of early , drawing inspiration from Ponsoldt's conversations with his own children about navigating change and Percy's observations of his daughter's entry into . This personal foundation shaped the story around four 11-year-old girls confronting the end of childhood on their final summer weekend. The film was produced by 3311 Productions, A Bigger Boat, and Ninety-One Braves, with serving as a producer alongside Peter Block, P. Jennifer Dana, and others. In August 2021, and Sony's acquired worldwide distribution rights, positioning Summering for a at the . As an independent coming-of-age drama, the production emphasized cost-effective storytelling to maintain creative control. Key creative decisions focused on , particularly in the delivered by the young cast. Ponsoldt incorporated natural phrasing derived from real-life interactions with children, allowing the adolescent actors to contribute insights during rehearsals to ensure the script felt genuine rather than contrived. This approach prioritized emotional over polished exposition, aligning with the film's thematic exploration of transitions.

Filming and release

Filming

for Summering took place from June 10 to July 30, 2021, primarily in the suburbs outside , , including Midvale, with additional scenes shot in residential neighborhoods, wooded areas like Dimple Dell Regional Park, and Old Sandy to capture a quintessential American suburban summer atmosphere. The production faced significant challenges due to an intense across the , which complicated outdoor shoots involving the young cast, as well as ongoing protocols that required strict safety measures, including testing and limited crew sizes, following earlier delays from the . Greta Zozula employed natural lighting to evoke a nostalgic, dream-like quality reminiscent of childhood memories, drawing inspiration from photographers like , while utilizing handheld camerawork to create an intimate, subjective perspective aligned with the film's focus on the girls' experiences.

Release

The film had its world premiere on January 22, 2022, at the in the Kids section. Following the festival screening, Summering received a in the United States on August 12, 2022, distributed by , which had acquired North American rights in August 2021. International distribution rights were secured by around the same time, enabling global rollout. It was released on digital and video on demand platforms on September 1, 2022. As of November 2025, the film is available for streaming on . Marketing efforts centered on the film's coming-of-age narrative, with releasing an official trailer on July 12, 2022, that highlighted the and bonds of among the four young protagonists. The Sundance premiere generated early festival buzz, particularly praising the fresh performances by the young cast including Lia Barnett, , Eden Grace Redfield, and Sanai Victoria.

Reception

Critical response

Summering received mixed reviews from critics, with a 34% approval on based on 65 reviews, and an average of 4.8/10. On , the film holds a score of 50 out of 100 from 17 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. The critic consensus describes it as "a harmless enough , but there are far superior—and far less saccharine—entries in this crowded genre." Critics frequently praised the young cast's performances, noting their authenticity in portraying tween friendships and emotions. The film's nostalgic evocation of a carefree summer was highlighted as a strength, with director commended for capturing the subtle anxieties of growing up. For instance, the appreciated how Summering "balances the bucolic stuff with bits of acidic humor," emphasizing its ethereal yet grounded take on childhood. Similarly, noted that the film "provides the perfect territory for whoever wants to feel nostalgic about childhood," crediting the persuasive depiction of the girls' bonds. However, common criticisms centered on the film's uneven pacing and underdeveloped mystery plot, which many felt undermined its thematic ambitions. Reviewers argued that the narrative failed to fully explore its ideas about loss and transition, resulting in a superficial treatment of deeper elements. The Guardian called the ending "a tiresome new-agey cop-out and a lot of viable ideas have gone to waste," deeming it a overall. The Hollywood Reporter observed that while the setup holds promise, the execution lacks the depth to elevate the adventure elements beyond a familiar coming-of-age . Crooked Marquee echoed this, stating that despite "good intentions," the focus on girls' "never actually makes it a good movie."

Box office performance

Summering earned a total of $64,369 worldwide at the , with the vast majority coming from the where it grossed $57,770, and only $6,599 from international markets. The film opened in limited release on August 12, 2022, distributed by Bleecker Street Media, generating $32,850 over its debut weekend across 260 theaters. Audience reception, as measured by user ratings, was mixed to negative, with an average score of 4.5 out of 10 on based on 10,515 votes (as of November 2025).

References

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