Now that Chicagoans are in the winter, it’s an ideal time to discuss In the Summers (2024) — especially since the dramedy’s director Alessandra Lacorazza recently nabbed an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best First Feature.
Janet Arvia: Both your directorial debut and your film were also honored at the Sundance Film Festival. How has winning the U.S. Dramatic Competition and the Grand Jury Prize affected you and the movie?
Alessandra Lacorazza: I still can’t believe that happened. I think getting recognized at a major festival gives the film more traction. It’s especially important for small independent films like this. The hope is that it will make things a little easier when I go to make my next film. I’ll keep you posted on that— ha!
In the Summers takes place over the course of several years as it follows sisters Violeta and Eva visiting their father in Mexico. How did showing the characters from adolescence to early adulthood inform your casting choices?
I knew that if I got the casting wrong, I wouldn’t have a film. I worked with an incredible casting director, Stephanie Yankwitt from TBD Casting, who really took the time to understand my vision for the film. For me, the most important thing was for the performances to feel real and lived-in. I wanted actors who could get lost in their roles.
Did you match the older actresses to the younger ones or vice versa?
The way we approached it was to cast the older and younger versions first, knowing that the middle versions would have to bridge the gap between them. Yes, they needed to look believable as the same person, but more importantly, they had to share the same essence and understanding of the character.
You’ve worked as a screenwriter, director and editor. What phase of the filmmaking process (pre-production, production, or post-production) is your favorite?
I enjoyed all of them but felt the most confident in post-production because that’s where my background lies. I also love the process of sculpting a film from raw materials.
In the Summers is semi-autobiographical. Other than the people in your life, who has influenced your filmmaking style?
I’ve been influenced by so many wonderful directors who came before me. For this film, the ones that come to mind are Lucrecia Martel, Andrea Arnold, and Ulrich Seidl. In addition, I drew inspiration from Dutch Vanitas paintings — not just for the chapter markers, but also for the ethos of the film: memento mori and its capacity to remind us of the brevity of life.
In the Summers features René “Residente” Pérez Joglar, Sasha Calle, Lío Mehiel, and Leslie Grace. The film will be available on DVD and Blu-ray on Feb. 11. Until then, it can be streamed for a modest fee on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Google Play Movies & TV, and YouTube.
Aidy Bryant will host the 40th Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California, on Feb. 22, 2025. The show will be streamed live on the IMDB and Film Independent YouTube channels.
