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As the solstice approaches and marks the official end of the summer, I found myself reflecting on my own. My summer was filled with a lot of things, and one being a whole lot of art. I read, watched, listened, and everything in between. So, here is my summer roundup: The best of the best and the things that I hope to carry with me into the fall.
My Mother Laughs — Chantal Akerman
This book is a heartbreaking memoir that features Akerman’s reflections on the life she has lived, which is set in direct contrast to her mother, who she watches slowly die. Akerman contemplates their connection and how it has seeped into her other relationships. She writes about the pain of feeling regret while she watches her mother try to live without any traces of it.
Her mother survived Auschwitz but refuses to talk about it, and Akerman constantly feels a strain between them because of her mother’s painful past. She juggles not wanting to ask too much from her mother with also wishing to know more about her life in those final moments.
The book is a bit scattered and, at times, feels not quite put together, but it only adds to the emotions Akerman experiences as she attempts to reconcile her mother’s life ending and what that means to her. She writes simply; there is no flair or finesse, it is just her, and the final product reads as deeply intimate and vulnerable.
One of my favorite moments was when Akerman reflected on the concept of time: “When people are enjoying a film, they say ‘I didn’t see the time go by’… but I think that when time flies and you don’t see time passing by, you are robbed of an hour and a half or two hours of your life. Because all you have in life is time.”
It is a novel of deep sadness, but it is also one of significant growth; Akerman is forced to grieve her mother while she is still living, and that process both breaks her and forces her to think about her own life decisions.
Certified Copy — Abbas Kiarostami
This film, a late July rewatch, is set in the breathtaking streets, roads, and cafes of Tuscany and is perfect for summer. It stars Juliet Binoche as Elle, a mother and art lover, and William Shimell as James, the author of the esteemed novel “Copia Conforme” (Certified Copy).
The two begin to spend time together, traveling around different parts of Tuscany. While their journey is interesting to watch within the vivid imagery of the beautiful Tuscan surroundings, it is around the one-hour mark where the film gets complicated. Similar to James’ novel, he and Elle begin to appear as copies of themselves; that is, they look and talk like themselves, but the things they are saying complicate our understanding of who they truly are.
The first time I watched the film, I remember enjoying it but feeling perplexed by what exactly it was getting at. Now, almost three years later, I was able to develop a more solid interpretation. As the physical begins to deceive us — Elle and James morph into characters who seem to directly refute our initial understandings of them — the emotional parts of them seem to reveal what really is.
The film represents complex emotions so wonderfully, in a way I don’t think I’ve ever experienced. It is confusing, but so are the emotions the characters are feeling. It raises interesting ideas about replication and whether or not a replica can ever be as genuine as the original. The film asks this question, but never quite answers it, making it a puzzle that the viewer has to piece together themselves.
The Passionate Ones — Nourished By Time
Nourished By Time is the brainchild of Baltimore native Marcus Brown. His production is exciting, and his music feels like a culmination of all of the sounds I love mixed together in a wholly unique way.
Though this album was released at the tail end of summer, I couldn’t put it down during those last few weeks; it fit every scenario I could conjure up. There were three singles released periodically throughout the summer, which I devoured the moment they came out. “Max Potential” was the first single Brown teased. It details feelings of stress that seem to be all-consuming, but then Brown grounds himself through the reminder of all the love that exists around him.
“9 2 5” was released next, and is easily one of my favorites of the entire album. It turns a song about working an unfulfilling job into something danceable and undoubtedly fun. The final single released ahead of the album was “BABY BABY”, which centers around global violence and consumerism. It is a powerful portrait of our current world, set behind equally powerful instrumentals and vocals.
A personal favorite was “Automatic Love”, the album’s opener, which is an upbeat and incredibly touching depiction of love. “Jojo” is a slower track where Brown copes with his past of battling poverty and addiction, and reflects on how far he has come.
The album’s final song, the titular “The Passionate Ones”, is a perfect end. It details the vulnerability it takes to have deep passions and the importance of imagining a better future. As my summer came to a close, this track felt like a significant guide into the fall and a gentle reminder to be present.
Ellie Trinkle '26 (she/her) is the Senior Arts and Culture Editor.
She previously served as a News Editor and Staff Writer. She is a Film & Creative writing double major from Brooklyn who loves all things art. You can typically find her obsessively making Spotify playlists, wearing heaps of jewelry, or running frantically around campus.
