The Last Summer
2019 · Directed by William Bindley
Original language: English
- romance
- comedy
The story
Standing on the precipice of adulthood, a group of friends navigate new relationships, while reexamining others, during their final summer before college.
What it’s like
Bright, easygoing summer light and a warm, loose comic energy set the tone, with the city of Chicago providing a backdrop of sunny streets, parties, and hangouts that feel ordinary and lived-in. The camera stays close and conversational, favouring group scenes and quick reaction shots over elaborate staging, so it feels like sitting in on a friend group's last long stretch of freedom. The vibe is light and bittersweet: playful and romantic, with a quiet undercurrent of nostalgia for something ending. Pacing is relaxed, with comedy and romantic tension rising and falling in easy waves rather than building toward big set pieces. Emotional stakes stay gentle, centred on crushes, reconciliations, and the small anxieties of growing up, and the people's arcs move from uncertainty toward clearer choices about who matters. Intensity is low: no real violence, and the romance stays at teen-comedy level. It suits a lazy weekend afternoon, a warm-evening rewatch, or anyone craving a feel-good coming-of-age story with a summery glow and no heavy drama.
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