Watchlist

What to watch: The Summer With Carmen

Sun-drenched sensuality, love, and drama amidst the men of Greece.

Means Happy

Sep 16, 2024 — 3 min read

Written and directed by Zacharías Mavroidí, The Summer With Carmen is a film within a film.

Best friends Demosthenes (Yorgos Tsiantoulas) and Nikitas (Andreas Labropoulos) are brainstorming ideas for a screenplay. They draw on the events of the previous summer - mostly revolving around Demosthenes' problematic love life.

This is a concept that runs the risk of being too meta, too self-absorbed, and too self-referential.

But there's a number of key factors that elevate The Summer With Carmen beyond wordy exposition.

Firstly, there's the embrace of nudity. Many of the conversations between Demosthenes and Nikitas take place on a nude beach. Love. Also, we get to Demosthenes frequently hooking up and getting naked. Also love.

Secondly, Yorgos Tsiantoulas is an incredibly attractive man. Whatever he is doing on screen, it's worth watching.

But most importantly, there's an engaging warmth to the storytelling that holds your attention - Zacharías Mavroidí brings a knowing self-depreciation to the whole exercise that draws the audience in with Brechtian flair. We're all in this together, we want to be entertained, we want to enjoy watching this story unfold.

The Summer With Carmen will have you dreaming of a spending some time in Athens, getting naked with the men of Greece.

The Summer With Carmen is distributed by Cinephobia Releasing