A family summer holiday turns bleak as secrets unfold in ACID opener, Kyuka Before Summer’s End by Kostis Charamountanis.
For his debut film, Greek filmmaker Kostis Charamountanis evokes a sense of nostalgia to open Kyuka Before Summer’s End, which premiered at ACID as opening film of the sidebar section of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. For those familiar with classic Disney animated films, “Kyuka” (meaning “vacation” in Japanese) features a soundtrack of classical music that will warm your heart during the holiday season.
The story follows single father Babis (Simeon Tsakiris) as he takes his twin children on the brink of adulthood, Konstantinos and Elsa (Konstantinos Georgopoulos and Elsa Lekakou), on a boating holiday to Poros island. Amid swimming, sunbathing, and fishing, they unknowingly encounter their birth mother, Anna (Elena Topalidou), who had abandoned them when they were little. Anna, on her part, is unaware that these are her children.
One day, Elsa and Konstantinos meet a little girl, Ioli (Ioli Kalaitzi), who has strayed away from her family. The twins then meet her older sister, Artemis (Afroditi Kapokaki). The four of them bond and enjoy a summer adventure together, which stirs up long-held feelings about their lost mother, leading to a bittersweet coming-of-age journey for everyone involved.
Charamountanis crafts his film with attractive color palettes while developing an emotionally layered tale of the twins’ coming-of-age. A splendid array of summer snapshots takes the spotlight before the revealing third act. He captures the essence of a holiday film with eccentric choices, and the solid construction leads to dramatic tension that wasn’t initially expected. Charamountanis emphasizes the journey toward redemption rather than relying solely on plot twists. This funny, warm, and bittersweet story is for everyone.
Kyuka Before Summer’s End is produced by Heretic (Greece) and List Production (North Macedonia), with Heretic Outreach handling sales. The film has been sold to France, Greece, and Benelux for theatrical releases.
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