In the Summers

In the Summers is a 2024 American semi-autobiographical drama film written and directed by Alessandra Lacorazza Samudio in her feature directorial debut. The film won the Grand Jury Prize U.S. Dramatic at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

Premise
The film centers two sisters navigating fraught summer visits with their father.

Cast

 * René Pérez as Vicente
 * Sasha Calle as Eva
 * Lio Mehiel as Violeta
 * Emma Ramos as Carmen
 * Leslie Grace as Yenny
 * Sharlene Cruz as Camila

Production
It is the debut film of Alessandra Lacorazza, and is loosely based on her childhood visiting her father in Colombia during the summers. Production took place in Las Cruces, New Mexico and wrapped in June 2023.

Release
The film premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2024, winning the Grand Jury Prize Dramatic as well as the U.S. Dramatic Award for Directing Screenwriting and Editing for Lacorazza. In June 2024, Music Box Films acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film, planning a theatrical release later that summer followed by a home video release.

Reception
The film received mostly positive reviews from film critics.

Lovia Gyarke of The Hollywood Reporter described the film as "a visual poem" and praised its acting, but criticized the pacing of the final act. Carlos Aguilar of Variety also praised the cast and its focus on "the everyday vicissitudes of ordinary folk", rather than overly inspirational Latino protagonists.

Robert Daniels of Rogerebert.com criticized the film's lack of a strong central narrative, use of cliches and the distance between the audience and the characters, writing that it "has the look of a better film". However, he praised the actors, "especially the organically composed Residente" saying they "give more than the script offers".