Summer’s Camera – Review and Summary

Young love is documented by the shutter of a camera in Divine Sung’s Summer’s Camera.

ByAmari Allah Hours Posted on
Title Card – Summer’s Camera

Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.

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“Summer’s Camera” Film Details

Movie Summary

Growing up, Summer’s dad, Jihoon, introduced her to various cameras he used when he was her age, and they bonded over photography. A year after his death, she finds herself a freshman in high school, experiencing love for the first time, and using her father’s camera to document it. But, in developing the last camera roll he used in high school, she discovers her dad had a boyfriend. With her own queer journey beginning with a girl named Yeonwoo, Summer finds herself meeting her dad’s ex, Maru, and him becoming a surrogate father as she navigates being a lesbian experiencing her first love.

Cast and Characters

Summer (Kim Sia)

Summer (Kim Sia) talking to Yeonwoo and properly introducing herself – Summer’s Camera
Summer (Kim Sia) – Summer’s Camera (Newfest)
  • Character Summary: Summer is a freshman at Sinmok Girls’ High School who always carries a huge backpack, with one of the pockets holding one of her father’s old cameras. Generally speaking, she is either alone or with her best friend since kindergarten, and only recently has that camera been brought out again, thanks to Yeonwoo.

Jihoon (Choi Jihoon)

  • Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
  • Character Summary: Jihoon is Summer’s father, Maru’s ex, who is assumed to be bisexual. Unfortunately, he died a year before the events of Summer’s Camera began, so what happened isn’t 100% clear. However, it is made clear that he deeply loved Summer and named her after his favorite season.

Yeonwoo (Yu Gaeun)

Yeonwoo (Yu Gaeun) waving to Summer – Summer’s Camera
Yeonwoo (Yu Gaeun) – Summer’s Camera (Newfest)
  • Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
  • Character Summary: Yeonwoo is Sinmok Girls’ High School’s star soccer player and is Summer’s first girlfriend.

Maru (Kwak Mingkyu)

Maru (Kwak Mingkyu) and Summer (Kim Sia) talking – Summer’s Camera
Maru (Kwak Mingkyu) and Summer (Kim Sia) – Summer’s Camera (Newfest)
  • Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
  • Character Summary: In modern times, Maru is a hairdresser with their own shop. In the past, however, they were Jihoon’s boyfriend, which was only discovered via Summer developing pictures, in which Maru’s name is in a photo. This is notable since, throughout his career, Jihoon didn’t photograph people, making Maru the potential first and last person he captured.

What To Expect In “Summer’s Camera” (Not Rated) – Content Overview

  • Nothing notable

Review and Commentary

Highlight(s)

Summer’s Relationship With Maru [83/100]

Whether you look at Maru as an uncle or a surrogate father, there is no denying that his entrance into Summer’s life comes at a pivotal time, and he honors what she needs him to be. Yes, it was awkward for this girl to come into his life suddenly, talk about an ex from almost 20 years ago, and drop the bomb that he had died. However, rather than push her away, he learns to embrace her, and while they aren’t two people who form the kind of bond that pushes the “Maybe in another life” type feeling, you can see a connection.

Now, whether it is because she is a baby gay and he is well-seasoned, or Summer has no one else to turn to regarding understanding her feelings? That’s hard to say. But, you can see for both there is some form of healing, and watching them bond is almost as sweet as seeing Summer in her first relationship.

Summer and Yeonwoo [82/100]

Young love is so beautiful to watch, and the way Summer’s Camera operates is with such innocence that when you see those moments like pinky’s brushing together or the back of the hand when walking close, it makes you internally squee and move about in your chair. What also helps is that Summer’s Camera is so sanitized that you could watch this with a pre-teen or young teenager, so it really can not only allow an adult to relive their first crush turned partner but also be something for a kid unsure of their sexuality to watch, without there being anything to have to explain or shield their eyes from.

Low Point(s)

Lack Of Conflict Sometimes Makes The Film Feel Aimless [68/100]

With all that said, this film can come off bland since there isn’t much in the way of conflict, obstacles, or anything that can establish an end goal. Summer being queer isn’t an issue internally or within her community, and even her father’s sexuality isn’t something that is an issue or something that leaves her family shook. Maru, despite the sudden arrival of his ex’s daughter, like Summer’s mom, isn’t given much space to convey how they feel about Jihoon’s death, beyond one scene, and Summer pushes the idea that, with it being a year, she is still grieving, but has processed her feelings.

Heck, even Summer and Yeonwoo’s relationship, while imperfect, doesn’t have even puppy love conflict to show the ups and downs of Summer’s first and Yeonwoo’s second relationship. Summer’s Camera just feels like the product of what we’ve seen a lot with LGBT+ movies, where, since for so long they have been about trauma and strife, Summer’s Camera seems like the polar opposite in such a way that it feels bland. Safe enough for young people to watch, but so dull that if you don’t find yourself triggered with nostalgia, this could be a struggle to get through.

Overall

Our Rating (77/100): Mixed (Divisive)

Summer’s Camera, in how it depicts love, loss, and kinship, is a reminder of the unpaved path that exists currently for Queer Media. After generations of trauma, now there is a desire for something simple, lovely, even approachable for tweens, but in the avoidance of trauma, so comes a sanitized experience, which can still affect you, but after a tolerance is built up for the sweet moments, you come to realize there isn’t much left.

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Amari is the founder and head writer of Wherever-I-Look.com and has been reviewing media since 2010. He approaches each production with hope, rooting for every story to succeed, and believes criticism should come from unmet potential, while praise is reserved for work that meets or exceeds expectations.