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May in the Summer

  • 20132013
  • RR
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
838
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • IMDbPro
Bill Pullman, Cherien Dabis, and Elie Mitri in May in the Summer (2013)
Trailer for May in the Summer
Play trailer2:27
1 Video
31 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama

May returns to her childhood home in Jordan for her wedding. Shortly after reuniting with her sisters and their long-since divorced parents, myriad familial and cultural conflicts lead May t... Read allMay returns to her childhood home in Jordan for her wedding. Shortly after reuniting with her sisters and their long-since divorced parents, myriad familial and cultural conflicts lead May to question the big step she is about to take.May returns to her childhood home in Jordan for her wedding. Shortly after reuniting with her sisters and their long-since divorced parents, myriad familial and cultural conflicts lead May to question the big step she is about to take.

IMDb RATING
5.7/10
838
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Cherien Dabis
  • Writer
    • Cherien Dabis(story)
  • Stars
    • Cherien Dabis
    • Alaadin Khasawneh
    • Alia Shawkat
Top credits
  • Director
    • Cherien Dabis
  • Writer
    • Cherien Dabis(story)
  • Stars
    • Cherien Dabis
    • Alaadin Khasawneh
    • Alia Shawkat
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 7User reviews
    • 34Critic reviews
    • 56Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations

    Videos1

    May in the Summer
    Trailer 2:27
    May in the Summer

    Photos31

    Bill Pullman, Hiam Abbass, Alia Shawkat, Cherien Dabis, Ritu Singh Pande, and Nadine Malouf at an event for May in the Summer (2013)
    Nadine Malouf at an event for May in the Summer (2013)
    Alia Shawkat at an event for May in the Summer (2013)
    Alia Shawkat at an event for May in the Summer (2013)
    Cherien Dabis at an event for May in the Summer (2013)
    Hiam Abbass at an event for May in the Summer (2013)
    Ritu Singh Pande at an event for May in the Summer (2013)
    Bill Pullman at an event for May in the Summer (2013)
    May in the Summer (2013)
    Cherien Dabis in May in the Summer (2013)
    Hiam Abbass in May in the Summer (2013)
    Alia Shawkat, Cherien Dabis, and Nadine Malouf in May in the Summer (2013)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Cherien Dabis
    Cherien Dabis
    • Mayas May
    Alaadin Khasawneh
    • Immigration officeras Immigration officer
    Alia Shawkat
    Alia Shawkat
    • Daliaas Dalia
    Nadine Malouf
    Nadine Malouf
    • Yasmineas Yasmine
    Hiam Abbass
    Hiam Abbass
    • Nadineas Nadine
    Tarek Shafakoj
    • Issamas Issam
    Ali Elyan
    • Uncle Walidas Uncle Walid
    Mary Nuqul
    • Aunt Hananas Aunt Hanan
    Sima Salti
    • Aunt Imaas Aunt Ima
    Ritu Singh Pande
    Ritu Singh Pande
    • Anuas Anu
    Bill Pullman
    Bill Pullman
    • Edwardas Edward
    Olga Nicholas Michenina
    • Seamstressas Seamstress
    Nasri Sayegh
    • Tameras Tamer
    Elie Mitri
    • Karimas Karim
    Haifa Agha
    • Oum Ziadas Oum Ziad
    Samual Kakish
    • Church Preacheras Church Preacher
    Ibrahim Chawki
    • Older Churchgoeras Older Churchgoer
    Aisha Ishawi
    • Female Churchgoer #1as Female Churchgoer #1
    • Director
      • Cherien Dabis
    • Writer
      • Cherien Dabis(story)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    High off the success of her first book and planning to marry ZIAD, her sensible, stable and studious fiance, MAY BRENNAN has it all. At least that's what she'd like people to believe. Reunited with her family in Amman, she's thrust back into the chaos of her former existence. Her headstrong mother NADINE, a born-again Christian disapproves of her Muslim fiance so thoroughly she plans to boycott the wedding. Her younger sisters DALIA and YASMINE behave like her children. And her estranged father EDWARD is suddenly and suspiciously interested in making amends. As her wedding day looms, May finds herself more and more confronted by the trauma of her parents divorce. And soon, her once carefully structured life spins hopelessly out of control. —Anonymous
    • mother daughter relationship
    • secret
    • doubt
    • three sisters
    • returning to homeland
    • 6 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for some language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Quotes

      Nadine: Since you were a baby... every time you cried, I cried. Especially you, because you never cried.

    • Crazy credits
      The last scene of May looking out over Amman continues behind the first part of the credits.
    • Soundtracks
      Shim El Yasmine
      Lyrics written by Hamed Sinno and music by Mashrou Leila

      Performed by Mashrou Leila

    User reviews7

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Great opening for Sundance 2013
    I see an awful lot of strange movies (OVERDOSE OF DEGRADATION (1970), anyone?) - horror, exploitation, science fiction, action, etc. It seems rare these days that I would sit still long enough to watch a film such as this. MAY isn't the kind of movie that I'm likely to slap in the DVD player. I'd have to be in the mood for it and that doesn't happen much. It would take an outside force for me to watch it and most of the time I would be better for it, ashamed of my reluctance.

    This was the film that opened Sundance this year and I can see why. Dabis has fashioned a light drama sprinkled with enough humor (often subtle) to make it a very pleasant experience. The performances are strong. Dabis put herself in front of the camera for the first time and does a wonderful job. Malouf, who plays May's sister Yasmine, nicely makes her feature debut, Shawkat, the other sister Dalia, gets the most laughs (you'll know her from ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (2003) as Maeby Funke) and Abbass provides a strong and determined mother, Nadine, to the girls. And what a neat surprise to see Bill Pullman show up as Edward, Nadine's ex and father to the three girls.

    Another major character is the location of Amman, Jordan. It's not only the sepia tone look of the landscape and buildings but getting a taste of the culture shock provides a few laughs at the expense of those who look upon women as less than men. There's a moment in the final act where May stands on the top of a mesa in the desert and sees the beautiful landscape around her in every direction. She stands alone and finds the answer she's been searching for. It's breathtaking. Except for the camels, it looks very much like the American Southwest. From this point until the end it's a full on drama with a conclusion that wraps up nicely (perhaps a little too neatly) where every major character fulfills their arc.

    From a guy who watches hundreds of movies a year and spends a lot of time wallowing in the movie gutter of the 60s and 70s, I highly recommend this flick.
    helpful•11
    7
    • Score_The_Film
    • Jan 18, 2013

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 21, 2013 (Belgium)
    • Countries of origin
      • Jordan
      • Qatar
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El verano de May
    • Filming locations
      • Jordan
    • Production companies
      • Displaced Pictures
      • Anonymous Content
      • Durga Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $22,004
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $10,157
      • Sep 1, 2014
    • Gross worldwide
      • $232,855
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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    Bill Pullman, Cherien Dabis, and Elie Mitri in May in the Summer (2013)
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