©Theodorus Mihopoulos GSC
Zacharias Mavroeidis’ “The Summer with Carmen” is a milestone work of queer cinema that seamlessly captures the nuances of gay life. The film takes us on a journey through a day at Athens’ queer beach, exploring queer-related themes such as hookup and relationship culture, family acceptance, and representation. The story begins as a lighthearted comedy, but soon transforms into an emotional character study that offers a genuine glimpse into the complex lives of gay individuals. Ultimately, as one of the most major queer films in recent memory, the film delivers a thoroughly examined portrayal of gay friendships that is both touching and thought-provoking.
Original Title: To kalokairi tis Karmen
Directed by: Zacharias Mavroeidis
Year: 2023
Country: Greece
Length: 106 minutes
The film delves into the world of gay life, following the story of Demosthenes (Yorgos Tsiantoulas), a 33-year-old former actor, and his close friendship with Nikitas (fabulously played by Andreas Lampropoulos), a 27-year-old aspiring filmmaker with a flamboyant personality. The plot switches back and forth between the past and present, as the duo attempts to co-write a screenplay based on Demosthenes’ experiences from two years prior. This narrative approach adds a self-reflective element to the film, making it an intriguing exploration of storytelling and the complexities of queer identity. Through their reflections on the events that took place during a brief but meaningful period in Demosthenes’ life, they contemplate the hero’s journey, its impact on the present, and more specifically how it has influenced his friendship with Nikitas.
Mavroeidis’ distinct editing style, reminiscent of the playfulness of Wes Anderson’s works yet uniquely its own, is immediately noticeable. This playful, out-of-the-box style is very fitting for a film that refuses to conform to standard social norms in terms of content. Text descriptors introduce us to our characters, Demosthenes and Nikitas, in a manner that feels playful yet purposeful. Another block of text that pops up teases us with the “Golden Rules of Screenwriting,” setting the stage for a meta-narrative that is as much about its characters as it is about the storytelling process itself. The standard “hero´s journey” arc that is oftentimes viewed as essential in cinema becomes a device for its central characters to reflect on their own development and whether they have been able to learn and grow from their experiences.
One of the film’s biggest triumphs is its gloriously authentic representation of gay culture from start to finish. The opening scene, which features a long shot of a man’s nude back as he lies on the beach, instantly solidifies the camera’s gaze throughout the film. Mavroeidis proudly presents all sorts of transgressions that come with Western gay culture. Here, the audacious display of homosexuality – from colorful pride parades, to the frequent use of gay lingo, to frequent graphic sexual content, to a random extravagant musical sequence in drag – is an authentic representation of the queer mind, challenging societal norms without sensationalizing the experiences of its characters. The natural dialogue between characters adds a humorous yet authentic layer that captivates the audience, as many gay people would be able to see themselves in this.
The film starts off as a lighthearted comedy, but gradually delves profoundly into deeper themes. Through a subplot centered on Demosthenes’ father’s declining health, the film explores the harsh realities of a lack of parental acceptance and the way it influences a child’s personality and subsequently marks their needs for the rest of their life. Demosthenes, desperate for love, increasingly bases many of his life decisions on finding romance and getting closer to his ex-boyfriend, Panos, rather than focusing on things that have been bringing him joy, such as his friendship with Nikitas. This arc serves as a critical commentary on the complexities of relationships, priorities, and jealousy within queer dynamics. Ultimately, the film highlights the significance of platonic friendships between gay people, which is often overlooked in queer cinema. While Demosthenes becomes fixated on pursuing romantic relationships, the film raises the question of whether there is still room for platonic relationships within the queer community and how they can be preserved.
Mavroeidis provides a lot of commentary on the current state of filmmaking with his film. A thought-provoking moment occurs during a striking gay sex scene, immediately followed by Demosthenes and Nikitas discussing the potential cheapness of including a gay scene in the film they’re writing. While hilariously ironic (the viewer had just witnessed a great sex scene), this meta-commentary isn’t just comedic; it challenges the viewer to consider the implications and importance of sex scenes in cinema. This reflection becomes especially meaningful in the context of an ongoing debate that has been central to queer cinema for many decades. Furthermore, through Nikitas’ character, Mavroeidis delves into the many struggles of being a working-class gay filmmaker, full of limitations that make it harder to properly deliver an authentic portrayal of the filmmaker´s life and experiences.
“The Summer with Carmen” is a vital addition to the landscape of queer cinema. It’s a reflective, audacious, and deeply human film that defies easy categorization and dares to look beyond themes that are usually present in contemporary gay cinema. The film serves as a celebration of queer culture and offers a new lens through which to view the nuances of queer life. In its embrace of complexity, the film becomes a testament to the heterogeneity of the gay experience while still being relatable to queer audiences, offering a narrative that is, above all, unabashedly authentic.
“The Summer h Carmen” premiered at the 2023 Venice International Film Festival as part of the Giornate degli Autori / Venice Days sidebar.
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