My First Summer
2020 · Directed by Katie Found
Original language: English
- drama
- romance
The story
Isolated on a remote property, 16-year-old Claudia finds her world transformed when a spirited girl named Grace wanders into her garden.
What it’s like
Sun-bleached Australian rural light, long patient takes and a loose, observational camera that lingers on grass, water and the quiet hum of a remote property in summer. The palette runs to dusty yellows, eucalyptus greens and the cool blue of a creek, with a sparse, unobtrusive score that leaves room for insects, wind and long silences. The vibe is tender and melancholy, with a slow, drifting warmth, the kind of film to sit with on a lazy afternoon or a quiet evening alone. Its pacing is unhurried, and its emotional arc follows a grieving, withdrawn teenager gradually opening up to a bright new friendship and the first stirrings of first love. Its intensity is low: there is no violence or gore, and the heavier notes (a dead parent, depression, a moment of dread near water) are handled with restraint rather than spectacle. It suits viewers who want a gentle, character-led coming-of-age story about grief, queer adolescence and quiet connection.
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