May in the Summer – movie review
May in the Summer has a whole lot going for it, but in an embarrassment of thematic riches, it seems to lose sight of the core story it set out to tell in the first place: May’s story. Encapsulated in the question of, “Should I get married to the man to whom I am engaged?” are questions of faith, and of religion, and of family, and of identity, but too often they’re explored on a superficial level. There’s a desire here to push beyond that into meaningful comments on a host of important issues, but along with diversions in the narrative vision, technical shortcomings in the filmmaking would still hold it back from much of the poignancy that May in the Summer perhaps ought to possess.
I loved how the dynamic between the sisters was portrayed. Cherien Dabis and Alia Shawkat, in particular, get how sisters react around one another and even though Dabis’s character is going through engagement troubles, it’s the bond between the sisters and mother that is the real selling point of the film. Religion, womanhood, and family ties all play integral roles in this film.
http://theyoungfolks.com/review/women-in-film-wednesday-march-madness/53562