Plot: What’s it about?
A Summer in La Goulette follows three teenage female virgins hoping to lose their virginity in the summer of 1967. One girl is Catholic, one Jewish and the other Muslim. It’s a fairly interesting film and follows each girl and their families’ reaction to discovering their plan. A lot of the humor arises from the misunderstandings and cultural differences between the girls and their fathers.
The film has English subtitles and dialogue spoken in Arabic, French and Italian. The three girls are Meriem (Sonia Mankai), Tina (Ava Cohen-Jonathan) and Gigi (Sarah Pariente). The big issue is that the girls choose to lose their virginity to boys outside of their religions. The film has a sort of open door policy in regards to the characters. I would be here all day trying to think back just over each and every character that comes and goes throughout the film. The 3 young boys that all are attracted to the 3 female leads hardly register as well. It is amusing seeing the boys hiding in seclusion as they try and avoid being discovered by each girl’s father.
A second viewing of the film did increase my enjoyment a bit. Knowing more of what to expect was key. Upon first viewing I was expecting something maybe with a bit more edge, but I viewed it on a second viewing with a shifted perspective that did improve the film. I don’t think it’s something I will pop back in my plater any time soon, but there is some mild enjoyment to be had. All of the actors seem to be enjoying their roles here, and that fun does translate to the screen.
Video: How’s it look?
With a 1.66:1 we get a very pleasing AVC encoded transfer that does justice to the sunny setting. The three female leads are quite easy on the eyes, and the background shots have a natural look to them, lending this well to the HD format. The print has a clean finish to it and the details are pretty consistently strong throughout. I can think back and nitpick a thing here and there, but really this transfer is mostly satisfying.
Audio: How’s it sound?
We’re given a 5.1 and 2.0 DTS HD option. This film is subtitled, so expect the vocals to dominate, but there’s the clean sound I’m so used to and the expected background noise when needed. It isn’t the most active film in terms of sound, but this track gets the job done and should please viewers and fans alike.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Theatrical Trailer
The Bottom Line
I enjoyed this film even if it didn’t resonate with me. If anything, the female leads were nice to look at. The story can probably be best viewed with an open mind and appreciation for cultural differences and misunderstandings. I feel more could have been done with this material, but it works well enough to at least warrant a viewing.
