That Summer

A spoiler light review of That Summer should begin with tone, because Göran Hugo Olsson understands exactly how this documentary ought to feel. That Summer gains early credibility from Peter Beard, whose presence is balanced by the different rhythm of Lee Radziwill. The foundation of That Summer can be stated simply: Montauk, East Hampton, New York, 2016. Within its 1h 20m running time, That Summer reveals both the benefits and the limits of that disciplined approach.

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As director of That Summer, Göran Hugo Olsson proves engaging in bursts but unable to maintain the same control in the transitions between intimate material and larger demands. A strong scene in That Summer often begins with a modest detail before Göran Hugo Olsson lets its meaning expand. For That Summer, worthwhile ideas compete with an uneven structure because the central tone remains visible even during busy passages. The weakness in That Summer is that the pace alternates between hurry and drift, although Göran Hugo Olsson usually finds the original rhythm again.

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The acting in That Summer is anchored by Peter Beard, who treats even functional scenes as opportunities to reveal character. Lee Radziwill answers that approach with a different energy, giving That Summer welcome friction whenever the pace begins to settle. Around them, Jacqueline Kennedy helps That Summer feel like an ensemble piece rather than a vehicle with decorative support. Under Göran Hugo Olsson, the performances in That Summer share a tone even when the writing gives them unequal depth.

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Rather than summarise every event in That Summer, it is enough to note how Montauk places East Hampton under growing pressure. Peter Beard gives that tension a face, which stops That Summer from becoming a mechanical sequence of developments. Peter Beard uses New York to widen the stakes of That Summer without losing sight of the original problem. Where Peter Beard becomes predictable, That Summer recovers interest through the consequences surrounding it.

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That Summer gains much of its identity from clear editorial organisation, a choice that makes the world readable as well as attractive. The contribution of Story allows That Summer to combine clear editorial organisation with a consistent visual language. Within its Sweden setting, That Summer makes particularly good use of patient observation when the story needs to change scale. Sound and editing preserve the personality of That Summer by supporting detail instead of announcing every intended response.

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That Summer uses its documentary framework to consider the tension between public stories and private experience. For the character played by Peter Beard, that idea gives That Summer stakes beyond the next immediate obstacle. The recurring pressure of East Hampton prevents the theme in That Summer from feeling like decoration added after the story. Göran Hugo Olsson makes That Summer more thoughtful whenever the implications remain inside action and reaction.

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Overall, That Summer amounts to a qualified recommendation and should suit viewers who enjoy thoughtful factual storytelling. The combination of Peter Beard, Göran Hugo Olsson and clear editorial organisation gives That Summer a specific identity. Although the pace alternates between hurry and drift in That Summer, the film recovers through craft and committed performance. For the audience it understands, That Summer offers enough character to remain worthwhile after the immediate plot has faded.