web site http://www.sommerstrum.de

Marco Kreuzpaintner
Allemagne 2004 98min German o.v. English s-t.

Achim and Tobi are best friends and stars of a Bavarian high-school rowing team. As they prepare for a major competition at a summer camp by a scenic lake, Tobi finds himself nursing a growing attraction to Achim that goes beyond their friendship. But Tobi’s growing anxiety over Achim’s relationship with Anke threatens both their friendship and their team’s enthusiasm and focus. The arrival of Queerstroke, a competitive, confident and openly gay rowing team at the camp, arouses responses ranging from outright homophobia to indifference in the campers – except in Tobi. As personal challenges culminate in a figurative and literal storm, other tensions break the surface and seek resolution at the regatta. Director Marco Kreuzpaintner explores the interaction of fear, insecurity and peer pressure in youthful decisions about friendship and sexuality. He elicits compelling, natural performances from a gifted cast, and approaches a highly personal and sensitive subject with humour and intelligence, adroitly avoiding the hysteria or sentimentality of Dawson’s Creek or The OC. Summer Storm invites us to identify with each character’s complex struggles – and revisit our own adolescent struggles and yearnings with compassion. – BP

Shown on:

saturday, november 12, 7H00 PM parisien 6 - pgm70 (Sommersturm + Starcrossed)