‘Last Summer’ – Six Minutes of Warmth
The end of high school is not just a farewell to childhood but, more often than not, it’s also the last goodbye to long-time friends, some of whom we may never see again. The 2022 short animated film, ‘Last Summer,’ by Nicola Bernardi, Alessandra De Stefano, and Gabriela Lewandowska, marks the momentous transition from children to adults for a teen band.
Ren is the lead singer and composer of his band, and the group is rehearsing their latest track, even though Ren is struggling with its lyrics. With the summer ending, most of the band is leaving town for college in different cities and Ren cannot wrap his head around all the change.
With a runtime that’s less than 7 minutes long, ‘Last Summer’ is like a breezy song, an ode to childhood friends. The animation is simple, the artwork is akin to a colored drawing book of a teenager. The movie has a very retro touch to it, as if made in the 70s or 80s, and it helps in making the story more archival and nostalgic. Anybody who’s ever been in a school band and was best-friends with their mates would absolutely love this little film.
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