I've long been a fan of the films of Kenneth R. Frank, so it's with more than a little regret that I find myself reviewing his latest film How I Spent My Summer Vacation months after Frank dropped it in my e-mail anxious to share his work.
The delay is perfectly understandable, perhaps. It's a combination of health issues followed by a hospice journey and the subsequent death of my father. While I remain deeply immersed in estate work, the fog of grief is giving way to a determination to return to daily life and to, somehow, also catch up on reviews.
And so, here I am.
How I Spent My Summer Vacation is a beautiful coming-of-age story about grief, or at least it's about mostly the fear of death and the fear of grief and, yeah, in many ways the fear of life.
I get that completely.
13-year-old Grace, sublimely played by Raquel Sciacca, is an awkward yet immensely likable early teen who serves as the central figure in Frank's storytelling. Alongside her brother, Richie (Dawson Sciacca), she's experienced an awkward end to her school yet and yet eagerly anticipates an upcoming trip with her father (Chris Mollica) to the Galapagos Islands. It's a trip that Grace has long simultaneously planned and feared. As we'll learn, however, fear isn't exactly a stranger to Grace.
As occasionally happens in life, plans change. The Galapagos Islands instead become a move for the summer to the east end of Long Island where Grace's mother (Christina Elise Perry) is to provide care for her sick grandather (Jerry Colpitts).
I suppose in some ways How I Spent My Summer Vacation went where I expected it to go, however, that's not always a bad thing. In this case, it's definitely not as Frank portrays universal themes and struggles in such a way that we can identify them. Many of us have been Grace. That familiarity breeds understanding and comfort, her real emotions and experiences become relatable and we can't help but absolutely adore her.
Everyone here feels genuine. Everyone here feels truthful. Every character is beautifully realized - partly because of Frank's wonderful storytelling and partly because this ensemble simply nails it. Of course, it starts with relative newcomer Sciacca. When you cast a child/youth, you never quite know what to expect. However, I have to believe Sciacca surpassed Frank's wildest hopes and dreams here with a performance that makes you want to follow the rest of her career.
Dawson Sciacca, yes her real-life brother, is a relatively brief player here yet absolutely essential throughout. Jerry Colpitts wisely avoids the maudlin as Grace's grandfather, instead turning in a performance that feels ever so slightly heroic and yet immensely natural. Chris Mollica, perhaps the most familiar face here, takes what could have easily been a one-note performance and turns it into something memorable as Grace's father. Similarly, Christina Elise Perry is exceptional as her mother.
The list goes on and on with an ensemble that is impressive throughout.
Frank lenses the film himself and gives us a story that feels up and close and personal. Kevin Wolfring's original music for the film beautifully weaves together the film's lighter and more dramatic moments. This is, quite simply, an enjoyable and winning indie film and a film the entire family will appreciate greatly.
I enjoyed How I Spent My Summer Vacation from beginning to end throughout its 82-minute running time. I felt close to it, partly because of my recent experiences with grief and, if I'm being honest because there's an awful lot of Richies running around here and my late mother's name was Grace. Weird, eh?
A definite growth film for Frank, an announcement of an up-and-coming young voice in Sciacca, a career highlight from Mollica, and an all-around lovely and meaningful film. How I Spent My Summer Vacation is a fantastic way to spend 90 minutes of your time.
Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic
