Estiu 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

Writers:

Carla Simón, Valentina Viso (collaborating writer)

Stars:

Laia Artigas, Paula Robles, Bruna Cusí

32 wins & 49 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.

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Plot Keywords:

bare chested male | hairy chest | beard | swimming | spoiled child | 

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Taglines:

Spain's Official Submission for Foreign Language Film Competition for the 90th Academy Awards

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Genres:

Drama | Family

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Details

Country:

Spain

Language:

Catalan

Release Date:

25 May 2018 (USA)

Also Known As:

Verano 1993

Filming Locations:

Olot, Girona, Catalonia, Spain

Box Office

Budget:

€960,000 (estimated)

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed in six weeks in the Summer of 2016.

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Connections

Features El retorno de D'Artacan (1990)

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Soundtracks

Wayang
Written by Ernest Pipó
Performed by Rob Pérez and Ernest Pipó

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" or even the more recent "Pan's Labyrinth". The contemplative gaze and relatively slow pace remind me of "En Construcción", a documentary by another Catalan filmmaker, José Luis Guerín.