Noah Schamus on How Their Debut Feature ‘Summer Solstice’ Captures Trans Intimacy by Mocking Bad Tropes and Embracing Bad Sex
variety.comJ. Kim Murphy The only thing more powerful than a first impression is a second one — at least, that’s the bet that “Summer Solstice,” a new anti-romantic comedy from Cartilage Films, makes on itself.
Beginning with a character giving an impassioned monologue recounting his gender-affirming surgery, the speech quickly curdles into something pretty tacky, even including the line, “I went from a caterpillar to a butterfly.” But then another voice interrupts: “Okay, thanks.
That’s enough.” This has all been in an audition room. And the audition is not going well. “I had a family member come to a screening.
And she said, ‘I was terrified in the first 30 seconds that this movie was going to be so awful,’” says writer-director Noah Schamus with a laugh.
