Summer Coda (2010)

Critic Reviews

• Jason Di Rosso, MovieTime, ABC Radio National

  If you can forgive its clumsy moments, the film exudes a considerable sensual power. Perhaps it's not enough, but it makes me look forward to Gray's next film.

• Margaret Pomeranz, At the Movies (Australia)

  The performances are nice but I don't think there's enough substance there in either of these people and I actually didn't believe the chemistry between them.

• David Stratton, At the Movies (Australia)

  In the end it's the love story that counts and it's a beautifully acted and surprisingly touching relationship.

• Don Groves, sbs.com.au

  Summer Coda is disappointing, an under-nourished, spasmodically involving melodrama set largely amid the orange groves of Mildura in rural Victoria.

• Jim Schembri, The Age (Australia)

  The themes of loss and moving on are sincere, but way too laboured. Angus Sampson brightens proceedings briefly as one of the fruit pickers -- will somebody please write a comedy lead for this guy? -- but otherwise it's an emotionally flat affair.

• Sandra Hall, Sydney Morning Herald

  he bucolic rhythms of life in the orange grove have a lot of allure. It's Eden on the Murray and if you sit back and let its glories wash over you, you'll find a lot here to like.

• Leigh Paatsch, Herald Sun (Australia)

  Nice scenery, shame about the movie.

• Philippa Hawker, The Age (Australia)

  Summer Coda, handsomely shot by Greg de Marigny, is a mixture of emotional understatement and pastoral lushness: it looks handsome, but its pace drifts at times.

• Glenn Dunks, Trespass

  Summer Coda has a lot to recommend -- and a recommendation this review most surely is -- but its visual splendour can often be in service of a film that doesn't quite have enough to say.

• , FILMINK (Australia)

  Yet another of those sweet, charming Australian films that will probably vanish quickly from cinemas and be seen by only a handful of film goers. The story is appealing but somewhat predictable, and is far too slowly paced.

• Matthew Toomey, ABC Radio Brisbane

  I've never harnessed a desire to visit Mildura but that's changed thanks to the beautiful cinematography of Greg De Marigny.

• Thomas Caldwell, Cinema Autopsy

  This is an extremely enjoyable film that will seduce audiences with its blend of appealing characters, glorious locations and an intelligent story about loss and love.

• Andrew L. Urban, Urban Cinefile

  Characters are underwritten, its dramatic tension limited to a few moments and its storyline paper thin

• Louise Keller, Urban Cinefile

  More successful as portraying a slice of life than a drama with emotional ballast, Summer Coda is a pleasant enough encounter although never resonates strongly enough to satisfy

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