written by Clayton Davis, Variety
When can you rightly say a film has been “overlooked”? The measure of that isn’t nearly as objective as the box office — or as clearly defined as the rushing river of opinion that’s poured into a 10 Best list. Overlooked means a movie that got out there…but not enough. A movie that wasn’t praised enough, or seen enough, or cherished enough by the audiences that did see it. Or some combination of the above. Overlooked, we admit, can be a bit in the eye of the beholder. Yet we think that the movies on our list clear a high bar of “should have been out there more. Or appreciated more.” One thing is for sure: The time for making up for that starts now.
In the Summers
Alessandra Lacorazza’s profound coming-of-age drama captivates you by embracing an unhurried pace in an age of fast, action-packed cinema. A quiet yet mighty piece of storytelling, it invites viewers to immerse themselves in its lush naturalistic visuals, its intimate character portraits, and its subtle storytelling. The performances by rapper-turned-actor René Pérez, as a brusque father who lives alone in the sleepy desert town of Las Cruces, New Mexico, and sees his two daughters only in the summer months, and newcomer Lio Meiel, as the daughter coming to terms with her identity, are raw and heartfelt. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, the film struggled to find a distributor (until Music Box stepped in), and then an audience. Yet this indelible family drama deserves one. The cinematography is a love letter to natural light and open spaces, resulting in an experience so tactile and artful it feels fully alive.
Featuring work from cinematographer Alejandro Mejia, ASC
