Summertime

It is but a mere copy-cat, a cheap imitation of the original storyline directed by Peque Gallaga with the writing prowess of Rosauro Dela Cruz. Follow the link below. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117568/) I don't think it really portrayed relevance to the so-called "allegory to the situation in South Korea during the '70s and '80s". It was merely implied that one of the characters was a democratic rights protester/student, and there were no credible circumstances where he in fact was really what the director made us believe. The student, the wife, and the husband (who incidentally was also a security guard, go figure...), including the depiction of the prevailing situation of the community up to the sequences of events. Can anyone explain the detailed resemblance of this movie to Gallaga's "Scorpio Nights"? By the way, this movie was showed on screen 16 years after "Scorpio Nights".

SUMMERTIME is probably too explicit in the sex department. It doesn't have to be, but there you have it. If plenty of skin and simulated sex doesn't turn you off, then SUMMERTIME offers up an interesting take on South Korea's road to democracy. The movie itself is a thin allegory to South Korea's turbulent late '70s and early '80s, as the democracy movement gained steam and was finally able to tear free from the restraints of their military dictators.

The film itself could have used some subtlety, and most people unfamiliar with South Korea politics and history would not "get" this part of it. Still, for those who know, SUMMERTIME gives a good microcosm of the events of the time.

But again, the movie is rather sexually explicit, so be warned.

7 out of 10

(go to www.nixflix.com for a more detailed review of this movie or reviews of other foreign films)

This movie is apparently a tribute or a remake of the Filipino movie Scorpio Nights. The original directed by Peque Gallaga that have reached cult status.

Many of the film aspects were originally retained like the protagonists and supporting characters, scenes with some variation from the original and location/setting of the house is alike but only in a different country and also the character's story arc were different.

The main character was silent, reserved and a bit mysterious. Compared with the lead from Scorpio Night that was more stoic and not lively. The supporting characters or the neighbors here has only a minor role unlike the original which can be a representation of the society back then.

Overall it was a good remake and it has great perspective in varying certain scenes but the ending was so-so.

I was not sure what to expect from this film when reading the two commments here before seeing it. My conclusion is that Summer Time goes quite in the same sense of the erotic french drama's from the eighties like "37°2 le matin" with Béatrice Dalle, "La Bonne" with Florence Guérin or even "Breathless" with Richard Gere and Valérie Kaprisky. They all have in common that they play during a very hot summer and combine tame nudity (showing breasts - you can see more flesh at any European beach during the summer nowadays...) and sweaty lovemaking in a dimly lit place while the ventilator hums in the background. So far so good. All of these movies do have in common that they are a bit dull when it comes to the storyline. But more later and also my opinion about the two previous comments...

When I put the DVD into the player I was so surprised! The leading actress (the cheating wife) is played by a very famous korean singer (she also sings the end credits - great song!) from the former pop group Roo'Ra (spoken: Rula) that she would show off so much was really surprising (I have a Roo'Ra VCD with their best songs brought home from my last visit in Korea). She indeed is quite a lovely sight...

Now on to the story. The plot is indeed very meaningless. Student revolutioneer hides from the officials in a rural town and rents a room on top of a young couple. He discovers several peeking holes and watches the bored wife dance and stretch/work out in sexy lingerie on her bed. The student protests are just used as a vessel for the reason of him being there and has nothing to do of whatsoever with the story. Also the end is pretty clear you see the husband carrying a gun occasionally throughout the movie the reason for showing these scenes made the ending not at all surprising. But back to the hiding student. He watches the couple having very unloving sex with each other. When the hubby comes home from night shift he just jumps onto his sleeping wife from behind and takes her, then stops as soon as he's finished - and that happens every day. When the husband loses his keys the student jumps on the opportunity and does the same thing with the bored and always faking sleep during intercourse housewife. The second time she notices him and they start an affair. So most of the movie is spent showing quite tame lovemaking as it can be seen in the above mentioned French movies. The plus of Summer Time is that the lovemaking is shot quite beautifully the minus is that there is not really much of a story going on. You later find out that the husband has raped his wife when they first met while he wanted to arrest her father and she, not knowing what to do after loosing her "pride" followed him and they married. He loved posessing her pretty body but none of them really loved each other in fact she hated him but for whatever reason stood with him. You could say that my opinion varies a little from the two previous ones. The film certainly wasn't a harsh sex movie that only adults can watch (nowadays) nor was it displaying the student struggles of the early 80ies in South-Korea. It is just a nice erotic teaser for people who like to see something else besides the ordinary XXX flicks. It's for fans of "art" movies and tasteful erotica. Fans of a good plot with many twists and p*rn will be disappointed but all others should give it a try when in the right mood at a warm summer evening with a glass of wine.

"Summer Time" is an erotic drama with lots of nudity and sex scenes. They are beautifully shot. But what goes on around the sex is nothing of interest. It's basically the story of a young man who watches his neighbors in bed, gets aroused and has sex with the wife by imitating her husband. When she discovers that the guy sleeping with her is not her man, she doesn't push him away. They become lovers. An adultery movie. I guess we had that before.

There is a certain edge to you average adultery movie though: "Summer Time" is pretty rough. For example, the first shot and the finale are bloody. And you see a shot of sperm. Those offended by such a depiction should best avoid "Summer Time". Everyone else is not really urged to watch it neither - because it's not very good. There are way better ways and films to kill 104 minutes.

Rating: 5/10