by Liudmyla Baganova

There’s something uniquely cinematic about Greek summers—the golden light, the deep blue of the Aegean, the air thick with nostalgia and possibility. The Summer with Carmen captures all of this but doesn’t settle for just being another picturesque slice of Mediterranean escapism. Instead, it delivers a clever, self-aware take on friendship, creativity, and the complexity of queer relationships, all wrapped in a playful meta-narrative that questions the very nature of storytelling.

Directed by Zacharias Mavroeidis, this Greek-language film revolves around two best friends, Demosthenes and Nikitas, who set out to write a screenplay together. Their chosen location? A gay nudist beach near Athens. Their subject? Their own lives—or at least a version that fits the so-called “rules” of screenwriting. What begins as an amusing creative exercise soon turns into something much deeper, as their conversations reveal long-standing tensions, personal insecurities, and the quiet love that binds them, even in their stark differences.

A Story That Writes Itself—or Does It?

What makes The Summer with Carmen stand apart from the usual indie queer cinema is its layered approach to storytelling. This isn’t just a film about two men reflecting on their experiences; it’s a film about how we construct narratives—both in art and in life. Throughout the movie, we see Demosthenes and Nikitas debating the elements of a good screenplay, referencing classic storytelling structures while also struggling to make their own experiences fit within those templates.

At times, their discussions feel like direct winks to the audience, especially when the film introduces on-screen text, listing “The Golden Rules of Screenwriting.” These moments serve as both comedic breaks and pointed critiques of the rigid structures imposed on storytelling, particularly in queer cinema. Do characters always need clear arcs? Does conflict need to be dramatic to be meaningful? And most importantly, does queerness always need to be defined by struggle? The film doesn’t provide easy answers, but it invites us to rethink the formulaic ways in which queer stories are often told.

Characters That Feel Real, Yet Larger Than Life

Demosthenes and Nikitas couldn’t be more different, and that’s where the magic lies. Yorgos Tsiantoulas plays Demosthenes with a quiet intensity, embodying the friend who appears self-assured but carries the weight of unspoken doubts. He’s the type who thinks before he speaks, often choosing to listen rather than to reveal too much about himself. This restraint makes for a compelling contrast to Nikitas, played by Andreas Labropoulos, whose energy is anything but subtle.

Labropoulos’s performance is a highlight. His Nikitas is flamboyant, impulsive, and endlessly entertaining, but never reduced to a stereotype. Instead, we get a character who is fully realised—someone who wears his queerness boldly but also harbours his own insecurities. There’s something reminiscent of Michel Serrault’s Albin in La Cage aux Folles, but Nikitas feels fresher, more grounded in today’s world. His presence injects humour and chaos into the film, but beneath that, there’s a deep yearning for connection and understanding.

Even though much of the film is driven by dialogue, it never feels static. Their interactions are brimming with chemistry, shifting seamlessly between comedic banter and deeply personal revelations. It’s in these moments that the film captures the beauty of long-term friendships—the ability to say everything and nothing at the same time, to wound and to heal in the span of a single conversation.

More Than Just a Pretty Backdrop

While the film could have easily leaned on its stunning setting as a crutch, it never lets aesthetics overpower the narrative. That being said, the cinematography is undeniably a character of its own. The sunlit beaches, the vibrant city streets of Athens, and even the fleeting glances exchanged in the shimmering heat create an atmosphere that feels both intimate and expansive.

Mavroeidis and his team understand the power of place—not just as scenery, but as a reflection of mood. The wide shots of the beach exude a sense of freedom, yet within them, the conversations between Demosthenes and Nikitas remain deeply personal, even claustrophobic at times. It’s a clever visual metaphor for the way we exist within our own stories—surrounded by an open world yet often stuck inside the narratives we build for ourselves.

Breaking the Mould of Queer Cinema

One of the most refreshing aspects of The Summer with Carmen is its refusal to frame queerness as inherently tragic. This isn’t a film about suffering, about characters fighting for their right to exist. Instead, it’s about the everyday complexities of being queer—the friendships, the humour, the contradictions, and the simple yet profound act of living authentically.

That’s not to say the film lacks emotional weight. Quite the opposite. It understands that queerness, like all identities, comes with its own set of challenges, but it chooses to explore them through introspection rather than melodrama. It acknowledges that queer people don’t just want to see struggle on screen; they also want joy, wit, and stories that reflect the full spectrum of their experiences.

A Few Rough Edges - But That’s the Charm

Of course, The Summer with Carmen isn’t for everyone. The self-referential style might be off-putting for those who prefer a more straightforward narrative. The constant back-and-forth between reality and constructed storytelling might feel indulgent at times. And some might argue that the film is too intellectual, that it gets caught up in its own cleverness.

But for those who appreciate films that challenge conventions, that invite audiences to engage rather than just observe, this is precisely what makes it special. It’s not trying to fit into a box—it’s actively questioning why the box exists in the first place.

‍

Final Thoughts: A Film That Feels Like Summer

At its core, The Summer with Carmen is a celebration of friendship, of storytelling, and of the endless conversations that define our lives. It’s a reminder that the most interesting stories don’t always follow the rules, and that sometimes, the best way to find meaning is to embrace the messiness of it all.

Official release in the UK theatrically by Peccadillo Pictures was set on 28 February 2025 and showing in cinemas across London, this is a film that doesn’t just invite you into its world, it makes you want to stay a little longer.