SUMMER HOURS
SUMMER HOURS. Those lazy, hazy memories that we are most nostalgic about usually spent at a perennial retreat at that time of the year when the living is easy. For one French Family in this well made movie it’s the country estate of the brood’s matriarch Hélène (Edith Scob) who inherited the house and it’s collection of art treasures and priceless furniture from a favourite uncle. Hélène is the mother of two sons Frederic (Charles Berling) and Jeremie (Jeremie Renier) and one daughter Adrienne (Academy Award winner Juliette Binoche). We meet the extended family reunited from all parts of the globe for Hélène’s summer birthday which turns out to be her last. The dispersal of her estate will bring back painful memories for adult children who have had to deal with the division of inherited assets especially when there is a difference of opinion regarding liquidation. Not only do the trio of survivors get to know and respect their differences, they also learn something about the French taxation system not to mention heritage legislation. They also learn a deep dark secret regarding their dearly departed mother.