It’s a Summer Film is a 2021 Japanese science fiction romantic comedy written and directed by Soshi Matsumoto. The film takes place in high school as students create a film for the school film festival called Samurai Spring. It’s a Summer Film is a fun entertaining film that is worth a watch.
The direction of the film is good. The film has a small pull of actors that do a good job and work together well. The film feels like a movie about a group of best friends the film shows that its clear these people care for each other. Because the film contains such a small pool of charterers that all feel unique and distinct. The mood of film is good. The film is a rom com and has a childlike innocence to it. The characters are written with a lot of passion, and you can tell they care about what they’re doing. The style of the film has a grounded feel combined with a sci-fi ecstatic to create a world both realistic and surrealistic style all at once.
The acting in the film is good. Marika Ito does a good job as Barefoot a head strong tom boy like girl with a passion for filmmaking. Daichi Kaneko does a good job as Rinato a boy who reluctantly gets dragged into making Marika’s film that has a secret. Yuumi Kawai does a good job as Kickboard one of Barefoots friends who is strong and helps her with the film. Kilala Inori does a good job as Blue Hawaii Barefoot’s good looking friend who helps her with her film. Mahiro Coda does a good job as Karin the director of a bigger budget student film. Shun’ya Itabashi does a good job as Daddy Boy a student that looks older than he is that helps them with the film.
The writing in the film is good. The film is ultimately a simple plot told well. the film is about people having a passion do something creative. The story is not complex however it’s told with so much love that you care that you are invested. This also relates to the characters. The characters in this film are not overly complex. However, they are highly likable people with a clear personality to wear you want to see their goals reached. They have an energy to them that’s infectious and makes you feel happy just watching them. The film is an interesting mix of genre the film is first and foremost a rom com and works well at being a sweet innocent love story. The film also contains Sci-Fi and time travel elements making the film more unique in its story and well as more complex and engaging. The film is ultimately about the love of filmmaking, and you can feel that passion in the film. Everybody needs up loving what they do and are proud of the result creating a positive and sweet love letter to filmmaking itself.
The cinematography in the film is good. The film isn’t shot in any special way; however, the film looks good, and everything is clear in the film. The shoots of the teenagers making their film is cool and is realistically rough in how they film their project.
The special effects in the film are good. The special effects are well done and feel fitting with the modo of the film. The effects the students use in the film are apocopate and feel innkeeping with student filmmaking. The CGI in the film although not incredible is not terrible and fits with the low budget nature of the film.
It’s a Student Film is a fun entertaining love letter to filmmaking that anyone who has a passion for cinema should watch.