Summer Triangle: Film Review

“Summer Triangle” is a new film from director Takeru Nakazawa and a film that is entirely visually generated by Artificial Intelligence. There is plenty of buzz around A.I. in the filmmaking world. Will it work? Will it capture the minds of viewers? Will it hold up against traditional filmmaking? With Summer Triangle, Nakazawa seems to endeavor to tackle some of these big questions. Making a film that he helmed entirely himself, with the help of professional voice artists and composers, Nakazawa is pioneering into the new uncharted waters of A.I. generated storytelling and filmmaking. An exciting, new time for the medium, and with Summer Triangle, Nakazawa seems to be onto something.

The story of Summer Triangle isn’t an unfamiliar one. Spielberg himself might smirk at the nod to some of his early work. And Nolan’s “Interstellar” seems to receive a tip of the hat here as well. The story centers around three boys, at the cusp of their teenage years on one memorable, magical summer night. A nostalgic set up, and one Nakazawa was perhaps wise to use as he navigates these A.I. waters. The framework of a story we all know so well certainly serves to endear the characters to our hearts. Where the story sets itself apart is in the turn that fateful evening takes when these three twelve-year-old boys see a UFO streaking through the starry night sky and crash land over the hills of the forest. In the spirit of adventure and camaraderie, the three decide to investigate and try to find it. 

We experience the film through the remembrances of one of those boys, “Vega” or John the leader of the little group. Thirty years later, he has become an astronaut, fulfilling his childhood dream and promise to his friends all those years ago. The summer triangle refers to the triangle of constellations and their respective alpha stars: Vega of the Lyra constellation, Altair, of the Aquila, and Deneb of the Cygnus constellations. Each of the three boys carries the nickname of their alpha star and it  is a clever metaphor for where their lives end up taking them. Each an alpha in their own rite, destined for greater things. 

The film goes on to weave a very dream-like journey, one that pivots back and forth between that summer night filled with mystery and adventure, to the current time and John as an astronaut, stationed on the moon. From the very opening of the film the viewer is pulled into the story through the epic, fantastical and impressive visuals. We are swept into the imaginations of these young characters as they pilot a space craft through the smoke, fire and ash of a new planet. Immediately, we notice the fine detail and dramatic imagery that A.I. is capable of. The swelling soundtrack serves to bolster the rocketing images, creating a sense of awe and wonder. And the film doesn’t let up once the “dream sequence” is over. 

The film seems to take on a life of its own, with few static shots, things always seem to be in motion. Using sweeping landscape shots, tracking shots, and multiple angels in each scene, the pace never tires, and the story moves deftly from one striking scene to the next. We get the sense we are floating into these landscapes or cosmic drifts, as visitors in a dreamscape. A clever use of visual motion as it serves to suspend the viewers interpretation of reality. Suspend your belief in reality, dear viewer, and delight in the spectacle and magnitude of the scenes created before you! The majesty of the immense forest at night, backlit by the galaxy of stars above. The serene beauty of the bone-white moon hung in the black of space. The green-blue glow of the gadgetry and hum of the spacecraft as it maneuvers through space. The crisp detail of each character’s face, down to the rain drops that fall from the sky staining their cheeks. The film is loaded with visual marvels for the eye to behold. Each detail is so clear and perfect, it is a true wonder. Set all of this to an epic, all-encompassing score and surely the viewer is transported to a dreamworld in which we cannot help but be swept up in. 

There are little “hiccups” here and there, perhaps the lightening changes too dramatically from one shot to the next in a scene, and at times some of the eyelines don’t seem to match up, the “180” rule may have been bent a few times, but that is easily forgiven when one takes into account how new this style of filmmaking is. And the themes with which Summer Triangle wrestles are all very close to the heart and familiar on a universal level. 

Summer Triangle aims to tug at our heartstrings with a coming-of-age story set on one epic fateful night. Its exploration of childhood curiosity, the special bonds we make in childhood that last a lifetime, the questions of the cosmos, loss of loved ones, and ultimately dreams fulfilled and promises kept are all notions that are uniquely human and of the heart. We are reminded with this film that things don’t always go as planned, that dreams aren’t always what they are cracked up to be. But, moreover, that the beauty of love and friendship can withstand the test of time. In fact, this film calls into question, in a magical way, the reality of time. How time doesn’t affect true bonds, which know no bounds of time and space. These characters “born under the same star” will always be friends. Their fates are written in the stars.  A lovely idea to ponder as the viewer goes along for the ride on this wonder-scape of a film.

As we come to the last act of this film, time is played with in profound ways. A scene in which we think our hero is about to lose it all is revealed in hellish slow motion. This is where A.I. visuals really excel, this scene unfolds in exquisite detail- in slow motion, a true nightmare unfolds before our eyes. The high drama of it all is very captivating and because motion and time are played with so well here, audiences will very much feel as though this is a nightmare or dream they are locked in on.

The closing scenes of the film are truly mind-bending in the most surreal and almost ethereal way. We follow Vega, in his dreams? In reality? Somewhere in between? As he makes his way back to the mountaintop of his childhood adventures. The visuals ebb and flow so beautifully, endearingly. Cutting back and forth between moments of time and space. The soundtrack, eerily quiet, adds to the contemplative peace of the scene. Vega reaches his destination, discovers his prize and is met with his reward. A reunion of fated souls, of friendships that withstand the test of time. 

The entire film is a beautifully composed metaphor for the timelessness of the bonds of friendship we make in one lifetime. These special bonds know no constraints and cannot be undone by time or space. Through use of immaculately details imagery, sweeping dramatic shots, time-tested universal human themes, and an epic soundtrack, Summer Triangle makes its mark and sets a bar for future filmmaking endeavors with A.I. 

And, no spoilers, but stay in your seats until after the credits roll for a surprise twist ending that brings the whole film together in a very satisfying way. 

Summer Triangle - Trailer