THE STORY – Returning home to his native Puerto Rico after years away, 17-year-old Javi meets Luife and Kiki, two social misfits who flip his entire world upside down.
THE CAST – Marcel Ruiz, Paolo Schoene & Kiki Montilla
THE TEAM – Carlitos Ruíz-Ruíz (Director/Writer), Marcel Ruiz & Mariana S. Belaval (Writers)
THE RUNNING TIME – 85 Minutes
When faced with unimaginable grief, it’s not uncommon to impulsively want a change of scenery. A new setting can provide tangible escapes from the people, places, and things that remind us of lost loved ones. It can also bury painful memories, blurring how we reflect on key moments in life. Sometimes, a return to our roots helps lift some of the fog. Confronting the past through a familiar lens is echoed in Carlitos Ruíz-Ruíz’s sophomore feature, “Summer of Three,” an intimate coming-of-age drama that chronicles summertime sadness in Puerto Rico. The film shines as a nuanced portrayal of youth and the messy, spontaneous adventures that unwittingly put life’s mysteries into crystal clear perspective.
Hazy images of a tragic childhood memory and lively snapshots of a car ride set a bittersweet tone in the film’s opening scenes. After moving to Los Angeles following his father’s sudden death, 17-year-old Javi (an excellent Marcel Ruiz) returns home to Puerto Rico for his grandfather’s funeral. Javi’s uncle picks him up at the airport with open arms, and their drive makes for an instantly charming introduction. The summery car ride views, captured through frenetic camera movements, give way to a vibrant, energetic showcase of the setting. Javi’s mother sent him to Puerto Rico for three weeks to help him remember his father, but all he can piece together is the feeling that he’s missing something. Javi is haunted by a heartache he doesn’t quite know how to deal with, a sentiment that rings achingly true whilst in the throes of grief. The film communicates this internal wrestling with emotions subtly, notably through a haunting scene in which Javi arrives at his father’s old room, left exactly as it was when he left. The camera pans across cherished framed family photos, one of which Javi notices and then flips over to conceal its memory.
In a fragmented frame of mind, Javi becomes drawn to a messy love triangle. Enter Luife (Paolo Schoene) and Kiki (Kiki Montilla), two misfits who turn Javi’s world upside down and make this summer a genuinely transformative one. As Javi gets lost in their impulsive, at times volatile company, they ultimately find pieces of themselves that help them sift through the emotional fog of grief. Luife and Kiki ultimately broaden his horizons, and their characterizations speak to those formative youthful years, where specific social encounters can change the course of your life. The film chronicles a nuanced journey of self-discovery through Javi’s character, culminating in an inner shift by the film’s conclusion. It’s a subtle transformation that feels intimate and rooted in realism.
The story embodies a familiar idea that the more specific you are as a filmmaker, the more universal your story feels. “Summer of Three” is loosely based on the personal experiences of Puerto Rican writer/director Carlitos Ruíz-Ruíz, who, much like his protagonist, lived in Los Angeles for a time before visiting back home. When Carlitos left for college and his parents moved back to Puerto Rico, he found himself returning to the island to spend summers there. These autobiographical elements add to the feeling of authenticity, as does a strong intergenerational artistic collaboration. Carlitos’s son, Marcel, delivers an excellent performance as Javi, carrying an adventurous story on his shoulders. Also a co-writer and producer on the film, Marcel brings a youthful energy to depicting today’s generation of Puerto Rican culture and identity. Much of this energy is enhanced visually by Pablo Ascanio’s excellent cinematography, which captures a vibrant rhythm and terrain. Additionally, the film’s soundtrack features a mix of established and emerging Puerto Rican artists, underlining intergenerational family elements of the story.
There’s an abundance of personality that shines through across the board, from the overall ensemble to the visual and musical elements. Adding emotional resonance to the story, Paolo Schoene and Kiki Montilla excel at depicting the unpredictable ups and downs of Luife and Kiki’s relationship. They each bring fun charisma and spontaneity to their respective roles, while also landing the escalating dramatic beats. Kiki Montilla stands out in particular, as “Summer of Three” marks her first-ever film role and an emerging career ahead. There’s an effortlessness to the trio’s chemistry that speaks to one of Carlitos Ruíz-Ruíz’s strongest suits on display in this film, directing actors and creating environments that feel lived-in. The trio of performances also helps ground a tumultuous final stretch of the film, in which some of the conflict feels forced into the narrative for dramatic purposes. A tragic chain of events build to an extremely rushed conclusion. However, thanks to a very talented trio at the film’s core, “Summer of Three” ultimately lands on a memorable coming-of-age montage of friendship.
