“Hot Summer Nights” The flashy look is just a pretense – brilliant technique and thinking

An excellent title indicating “a harbinger of destruction”

In addition, the most important thing is the title of this work, "Hot Summer Nights." Although it is translated as "tropical night" in the movie, it also indicates a kind of frenzy in which the whole town is in a fever. At the same time, it can also be seen as the dangerous and explosive energy that is unique to adolescence.

What is noteworthy here is that Daniel has come to this town to recuperate mentally after losing his beloved father. The quiet young man experiences a new passion for the first time by coming to this town, and begins to feel a sense of realization and pleasure in being alive by committing a crime.

“Hot Summer Nights” (c)2017 IMPERATIVE DISTRIBUTION, LLC. All rights reserved.

The town where the story takes place is in the midst of the "Summer Birds" season, when the wealthy gather for vacation, and it feels unrealistic to begin with. There's the Intolerance period before college starts, the emptiness of not being able to accept his father's death, and the rest of the world is on summer vacation. All of these elements come together perfectly, and Daniel tries to escape reality in this air pocket-like place. While he's in the middle of a tropical night that could be called paradise, everything is going smoothly. It's a daydream-like, unrealistic state. He's allowed to do whatever he wants, and Daniel becomes increasingly arrogant, and his words and actions escalate.

However, the tropical night does not last forever. What comes after it has passed? Yes, a storm. In other words, the title itself is a "harbinger" of a major event, a storm. Daniel's moratorium period comes to an end at the same time as the hurricane arrives, forcibly ending the tropical night. Then comes the merciless reality.

“Hot Summer Nights” (c)2017 IMPERATIVE DISTRIBUTION, LLC. All rights reserved.

I mentioned earlier that this is a literary production, but the title, structure, and development are all designed with a clear idea of ​​the specific effects they will have. On top of that, the unpredictable "life" aspects are left to the actors, including Timothée Chalamet, in an attempt to give the work life and warmth. This is why it is not an inorganic film that is dominated by theory. It is a "work made by people" that suggests a strong trust in Timothée and the other actors.

It may seem like a light and eccentric piece, but the more you dig into it, the more systematic parts become apparent. And yet, it doesn't forget the emotional parts either. A popular actor, an up-and-coming studio, and a brilliant director all display their talents equally -- this is a clever masterpiece backed not just by "talent" but also by "skill" and "knowledge."

Text: SYO

Born in 1987. After The Graduate from Tokyo Gakugei University, he worked at a film magazine editorial production site and a film information site before becoming a film writer. Works on a wide range of topics including interviews, reviews, columns, event appearances, and recommendation comments. Contributed to ``CINEMORE'', ``FRIDAY Digital'', ``Fan's Voice'', ``Eiga.com'', etc. Twitter「syocinema」

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"Hot Summer Nights"

Opens August 16, 2019 (Friday) at Shinjuku Piccadilly and other locations nationwide

Distributor: Happinet/Distribution cooperation: Copiapoa Films PG-12 rating

(c)2017 IMPERATIVE DISTRIBUTION, LLC. All rights reserved.

*Information as of August 2019 article publication.