Summer of ’85 (2025) – Official Review
“In the summer of 1985, everything changed, but not in the way you’d expect.”
In a time of neon colors, synth music, and adolescent recklessness, Summer of ’85 delivers a profound and bittersweet coming-of-age story. Set in a sleepy coastal town, this film weaves together friendship, love, loss, and the inevitable passage of time. Directed by Sofia Coppola, Summer of ’85 captures the essence of a generation, exploring the magic and heartache that comes with growing up and falling in love for the first time. With its emotionally charged performances, nostalgic soundtrack, and beautifully shot landscapes, the film pulls you into a world of sun-soaked days and stormy nights where memories are made—and sometimes broken.
Plot Summary
The story is centered around Alex (played by Finn Cole), a 17-year-old who spends his final summer before adulthood in his small seaside town. It’s the kind of summer that feels endless—full of lazy days by the ocean, parties with friends, and the kind of freedom that only youth can afford. However, everything changes when he meets Charlie (played by Lucas Hedges), a charming and mysterious young man who has recently moved to town.
Charlie is everything Alex isn’t: confident, outgoing, and full of secrets. As the two grow closer, a passionate, yet tumultuous romance blossoms, one that threatens to both consume and define Alex’s life. But as summer turns into fall, Alex is faced with the harsh realities of love and loss that come with growing up. The question remains: can their love survive beyond the fleeting moments of a perfect summer, or will it fade as quickly as it began?
Artistic Analysis
Sofia Coppola once again proves her mastery of visually stunning, emotionally rich storytelling with Summer of ’85. The film’s cinematography is absolutely breathtaking—sunset-lit beaches, glimmering ocean waves, and the contrast between the bright summer days and the dark, introspective nights are portrayed with such care and precision. The camera lingers on the characters’ faces, allowing their emotions to speak louder than words. The serene beauty of the coastal town is juxtaposed with the inner turmoil of the characters, creating a stunning visual representation of the emotional stakes at play.
The soundtrack plays a key role in the film, acting as both a backdrop and a reflection of the characters’ internal struggles. Featuring classic 80s hits, Summer of ’85 transports the audience back to the era, evoking nostalgia and enhancing the emotional depth of the story. The music pulses through the film, not just as a source of entertainment, but as a vehicle for storytelling, conveying the energy, optimism, and heartbreak of the time.
The film’s pacing is deliberate, mirroring the slow, almost dreamlike quality of summer itself. It builds toward an inevitable conclusion, where the fleeting nature of the romance becomes a reflection of the inevitable passage of time and the realities of growing up.
Performances
The performances in Summer of ’85 are nothing short of spectacular. Finn Cole delivers a nuanced portrayal of Alex, a young man on the brink of adulthood, caught between the carefree world of adolescence and the sobering truths of adulthood. He expertly navigates the emotional complexity of a character learning what it means to love and to lose.
Lucas Hedges, as Charlie, brings an air of mystery and vulnerability to his character, making him an enigmatic but deeply sympathetic figure. His chemistry with Cole is electric, and the tension between the two characters is palpable throughout the film. Together, they create a dynamic that is both tender and painful, capturing the intensity of young love that is often as fleeting as it is passionate.
The supporting cast also shines, with standout performances from Eliza Scanlen as Alex’s best friend, who offers both support and wisdom, and Matthew Goode as Alex’s father, whose distant and sometimes disapproving attitude adds an additional layer of conflict to the film.
Emotional Impact
The true heart of Summer of ’85 lies in its exploration of love, loss, and the inevitable end of innocence. At its core, the film asks a simple but poignant question: What happens when the most perfect time in your life inevitably comes to an end? The romance between Alex and Charlie, while intense and passionate, is marked by a deep sense of impermanence. Coppola captures this transience beautifully, reminding us all that the most fleeting moments often leave the deepest scars.
The emotional highs and lows are carefully balanced, making the film a deeply moving experience. From the euphoria of first love to the painful realizations of the future, the film tugs at the heartstrings in ways that are both subtle and devastating. There are moments of pure joy and moments of quiet heartbreak, and each one lands with the weight of a memory that can never be relived.
Tone and Rhythm
The film’s tone is a delicate balance between nostalgia and melancholy. It captures the bittersweet nature of youth—the way it feels both infinite and fleeting at the same time. The pacing reflects the lazy rhythm of summer, moving slowly at first, giving time for the relationship between Alex and Charlie to develop naturally, before building to a more intense and emotional conclusion.
The film’s ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia for a time when everything seemed possible, yet nothing lasts forever, is one of its greatest strengths. The bittersweet ending is inevitable, but it resonates deeply, as it reflects the real emotions of growing up and the impermanence of youth.
Final Thoughts
Summer of ’85 is a beautifully crafted, emotionally powerful film that captures the fleeting nature of youth, the intensity of first love, and the inevitable passage of time. Sofia Coppola’s direction, coupled with outstanding performances from Finn Cole and Lucas Hedges, creates a film that is as visually stunning as it is emotionally resonant.
This is a film that will stay with you long after the credits roll, evoking feelings of nostalgia, regret, and the profound beauty of love and loss. Summer of ’85 is a poignant reminder that, while the best summers may end too soon, the memories and lessons they impart will stay with us forever.
