A confident teen rowing team faces an unexpected challenge -- both in and out of the water -- in this coming-of-age comedy drama. Summer Storm primarily concerns the angsty Tobi (Robert Stadlober), a high-school oarsman whose finds his intimate friendship with charismatic teammate Achim (Kostja Ullmann) threatened as Achim gets more serious with his girlfriend. Tobi's situation is complicated when he and the boys leave for rowing camp for the summer: there, the headstrong team is introduced to
The Queerstrokes, a champion team of out-and-proud gay teen athletes. Some of the boys are fine with their new opponents, some are blatantly homophobic, and others -- Tobi included -- find their already shaky notions of heterosexuality threatened. Tensions rise in the days building up to the big competition, and Tobi struggles to come to terms with what his true desires are. Summer Storm had its North American premiere at the 2004 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi
This gay coming-of-age film from Germany ultimately has few original aspects, but it is an intelligently wrought drama that makes it a respectable entry in the genre.
Kreutzpainter limns his multifarious characters with an amiable, unforced humor and an authentic feel for the ways in which good kids respond to peer pressure with less-than-admirable behavior.
Don't let the trailer mislead you. Summer Storm is not some sort of supersexy European art film. It's kids being kids, and you've outgrown summer camp.
Recommended for its endearing performances, captivating locations and a poppy soundtrack that amiably underscores the bubbly sensuality of a summer in the sun.
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