A Summer’s End Poem

It’s a new year, new you in Lam Can-zhao’s slice-of-life short.

“What a waste of an afternoon”

It is the end of a peaceful, pleasant summer and two boys are considering their lives, and how things might change tomorrow. They are about to start middle school, and are one step closer to adulthood. They discuss what they want to do on this last day. One (Cai Liyu), wants to spend it peacefully fishing, with few obligations. His friend (Cai Jingbo), however, has grander ideas.

He gets a ride into the city with plans to get a new hairstyle – a layered perm, with highlights. It’s a simple premise, and one that doesn’t overstay its welcome. Running at a slender 15 minutes the film doesn’t waste much of it, except for the occasional musical break (there are two).

But there is a method to the madness. It’s this music that encourages the boy to go in the first place, and as he sits in the barber’s chair contemplating his choice, he imagines himself dancing to that very song – no doubt suddenly much cooler in middle school than he was in elementary.

It’s a small snapshot into the lives of adolescent boys, at a junction before having to take that big next step towards adulthood. It hits you with a small dose of nostalgia for that age, for carelessly fishing or making bold choices for your style. At least, it resonated a bit with me.

There isn’t too much to say about A Summer’s End Poem. It speaks for itself and does a good job of doing so. Made by some up-and-comers who are submitting this for the next Oscars, I’m curious to see what else they’ll do.

Verdict: Hardly a slice of life, more the thinnest sliver, A Summer’s End Poem is just that – a sonnet, capturing a moment of simplicity in a life about to get a lot more complicated.

Overall entertainment: 8/10
Violence: 0/10
Sex: 0/10
Minutes dedicated to dance breaks: 2/15
Haircut prices: Absolutely extortionate
Aspect ratio: I didn’t even mention this film was shot entirely in portrait. Is this a portent for things to come?