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Clocking in at a little under an hour, "Late Summer" manages to thoroughly encapsulate the transition period between summer and fall.
Although a bit heavy-handed at times, the movie's heart is in the right place. Ripe with African-American pride and strong female role models, "Late Summer" is the perfect movie for young adults and parents alike.
Nadia is her mom's best friend and soon faces a tough decision to stay at home and start a business with her or go away to college. After surviving a seemingly life-threatening obstacle, Nadia's mother clings to her child for support, almost to a fault. The pair is equally indebted to one another, but both individuals realize the decision that has to be made.
Consulting a slew of friends and family, Nadia soaks in a plethora of different life experiences as she tries to make up her mind regarding her own future. The film itself is set against a backdrop of old jazz/soul classics that meld beautifully with the story's simplistic nature. At its core, the film is a touching mother/daughter story, but it also stands to be a modern-day perspective on young adults in transitional phases.
Despite being fairly straightforward and predictable overall, there's still something to be said about positive, feel-good movies. "Late Summer" radiates positive vibes, which is especially refreshing amid negative portrayals of African-Americans and women in most mainstream cinema. There's nothing particularly groundbreaking about the short, but sometimes it's just nice to watch life unfold in a very real and earnest manner. All in all, "Late Summer" is a drama short with a lot of heart and is perfect for mother/daughter duos everywhere.