Summer 1993 (2017)

After her mother's death, six-year-old Frida is sent to her uncle's family to live with them in the countryside. But Frida finds it hard to forget her mother and adapt to her new life.

Director:

Carla Simón

Writer:

Carla Simón

Stars:

Laia Artigas, Paula Robles, Bruna Cusí

36 wins & 56 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Laia Artigas	...	Frida
Paula Robles	...	Anna
Bruna Cusí	...	Marga
David Verdaguer	...	Esteve
Fermí Reixach	...	Avi
Montse Sanz	...	Lola
Isabel Rocatti	...	Àvia
Berta Pipó	...	Tieta Àngela
Etna Campillo	...	Irene
Paula Blanco	...	Cesca
Quimet Pla	...	Gabriel
Dolores Fortis	...	Carnissera (as Dolors Fortis Artacho)
Tere Solà	...	Senyora Carnisseria (as Tere Solà Nasarre)
Josep Torrent	...	Doctor (as Josep Torrent Alabau)
Cristina Matas	...	Infermera (as Cristina Matas Calvet)

Storyline

In the Summer of 1993, Frida, a six-year-old little girl, leaves Barcelona and her grandparents for the countryside. After her father, her mother has just died of a mysterious illness. Taken in by her uncle Esteve and aunt Marga, Frida discovers her new environment, an old stone farmhouse in a mountainous area close to a dense forest. Her new "parents" prove friendly. Another good point is that they have a three-year old daughter named Anna who can become a playmate. For another child less disturbed than miserable uprooted Frida, this would be the most idyllic of stays, in other words a permanent vacation. But Frida IS disturbed and if there are undeniably good times at her new "home", there is also the unexpressed pain which makes her both feel sad and behave badly. Will Frida overcome her troubles ? Only the end of Summer will tell.

---

Plot Keywords:

mother daughter relationship | orphan | loss | childhood trauma | family relationships | 

---

Taglines:

A new family. A new world.

---

Genres:

Drama | Family

---

Did You Know?

Trivia

Due to legal restrictions, the crew could only work for 8 hours per day with Laia Artigas and 6 hours per day with Paula Robles, although every scene features at least one of them.

---

Quotes

Frida: No one loves me here.
Anna: I love you.

---

Connections

Features The Return of Dogtanian (1990)

---

Soundtracks

Hands
Written by Ernest Pipó
Performed by Pau Solsona, Simon E. Osuna and Joan Torné

User Reviews

A quiet storm

This is the story of a little girl from Barcelona who is adopted by her aunt's family in the countryside, after her mother passes away. Largely autobiographical, "Summer 1993" is filmed in a very naturalistic style and almost feels like a documentary. The director, Carla Simón, pays special attention to the kind of small details that can make a big difference to a young kid. Although not very much seems to be going on in the surface, one can see that a very important drama, charged with intense emotions, is going on deep in the lives of this little person and the family that has welcomed her. The acting is all very effective and particularly Laia Artigas, who plays the main character, is surprisingly strong and charismatic for someone her age.

"Summer 1993" is one of many Spanish films that observe the world through the eyes of a child. Other examples include the classics "Cría Cuervos", "The Spirit of the Beehive" and "El Sur". The contemplative gaze and relatively slow pace remind me of "En Construcción", a documentary by another Catalan filmmaker, José Luis Guerín.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

Spain

Language:

Catalan

Release Date:

25 May 2018 (USA)

Also Known As:

Summer 1993

Filming Locations:

Olot, Girona, Catalonia, Spain

Box Office

Budget:

EUR960,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$21,307, 27 May 2018

Gross USA:

$185,903

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,983,149

Company Credits

Production Co:

Avalon, Creative Europe Media, Fundación SGAE

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Atmos

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1