Set on the idyllic German Baltic Coast, Summer ’04 is a complex story of manners, morals and emotions. Miriam (Martina Gedeck) and her husband Andre are spending the summer in their tranquil seaside cottage. When their teenage son Nils brings his sexually precocious 12-year-old girlfriend Livia to stay for the summer, it initially raises no eyebrows. However when Livia begins brazenly flirting with an older man named Bill, Miriam feels obliged to intervene. The result is unexpected, with a sudden tragedy throwing all the relationships astray before neatly wrapping them up with a surprising revelation at the end. The level of Bill’s integrity is never certain, and the scenes between him and Miriam involve fantastic, revealing dialogue that is at times quite comedic.

All of the performances are excellent, with each character baring their own idiosyncrasies. It is especially hard not to like the wayward Miriam whose life is thrown into disarray by the seemingly innocent young Livia’s visit. Gedeck plays this role with a fine gusto and brilliantly portrays a woman whose principals are challenged, as intense passion hits her when she least expects it.

Directed by Stefan Krohmer and written by Daniel Knocke, Summer ’04 conveys potentially contentious subject matter and turns it into an uneasy, yet interesting cinema experience. The small-town, seaside location perfectly captures the summertime atmosphere and lifestyle of the family, with the beautiful seaside yachting scenes leaving a taste of salt on your lips.

Summer ’04 starts off slowly and lulls you into a relaxed summertime story of love, jealousy, passion and rejection; yet the film delivers its punches when you least expect them. The story doesn’t judge the characters, allowing you to make your own decisions and judgements at the end’perceptions which would surely have changed several times throughout the film.