Summer Hours

One of the very best places I like to go when I need to find a comforting, uplifting sense of inspiration is tucked away inside a good warm movie.

That's right, a movie. More on It's Complicated's lavender honey ice cream, Amelie's lovely slip, and The Kids Are All Right's locally grown salads later.

Right now I want to talk about Summer Hours, a lovely, quiet French movie that focuses on family, on how art is treated in today's world, and questions the care the future generations will (or will not) take of the rich culture of the past.




For me, the movie asked other important questions, every day questions like: where does art belong? Where do flowers belong? The answer: surrounding us, as part of us, as an intrinsic part of our lives, homes, and even legacies.




And the definition of what art is precious? The art that speaks to us, no matter how lauded and invaluable it isn't. In the movie, important pieces of art are given to a museum, while a family salvages its true treasures: a beat-up teapot, or a vase you always reach for to put your flowers in.



And what flowers do you put in the vase? Wildflowers you collect from the woods, of course. Wild, gnarly, woody flowers. In every room.




Beautiful, muted colors and beautiful, muted stories amidst the backdrop of the French countryside- who could ask for more?

It's on instant watch right now!