Year: 1996
Runtime: 114 mins
Language: French
Director: Éric Rohmer
While waiting for his girlfriend Léna to arrive at the Breton seaside resort of Dinard, Gaspard strikes up friendships—and heavy flirtations—with two other women: the personable ethnology student Margot and the alluring local Solène. Their involvement creates a tangled love triangle that complicates matters when Léna finally shows up.
Get a spoiler-free look at A Summer’s Tale (1996) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In the breezy summer glow of Dinard, a quiet seaside resort on Brittany’s coast, a young mathematician‑musician arrives alone, his mind humming with unfinished melodies. Gaspard drifts through the town’s promenades and empty flats, letting the rhythm of the waves shape a new sea‑shanty that hints at a different side of his usual blues‑laden repertoire. The air is salty, the sky wide, and the atmosphere carries a languid, almost lyrical tension that mirrors his own indecision.
It isn’t long before Margot appears at a modest café, a cheerful waitress with a PhD in ethnology who balances scholarly curiosity with a warm, approachable demeanor. Their friendship blossoms over casual walks and shared conversations about local folk traditions, each encounter subtly pulling Gaspard deeper into the rhythms of the community. Across the sand, the striking and confident Solène makes her entrance—a former choir singer whose sensual presence and straightforward nature ignite a different kind of spark, drawing the musician toward new possibilities both on the water and in his heart.
Caught between an on‑again/off‑again romance with Léna, who is expected to arrive soon, and the growing allure of the two women he’s begun to know, Gaspard finds his summer drifting into a delicate dance of attraction, self‑esteem, and artistic inspiration. The story swims in a tone that is equal parts breezy romance and introspective coming‑of‑age, letting the beautiful Breton setting amplify the quiet turmoil of a young man trying to harmonize his desires with the lingering notes of his own unfinished song.
Last Updated: December 03, 2025 at 23:32
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Stories where vacation flings lead to tangled emotions and unresolved endings.Discover movies like A Summer’s Tale that explore the delicate dance of vacation romance. This collection features stories of love found and lost during summer holidays, focusing on gentle pacing, reflective characters, and endings that feel both sweet and sorrowful.
Narratives in this thread typically follow a character on a holiday or retreat who enters a brief but transformative romantic entanglement. The plot is driven by conversation and character reflection rather than major events, building towards an ending that acknowledges the relationship's impermanence and the personal change it inspired.
These films share a specific mood blend of nostalgia, romance, and gentle melancholy. They are united by a slow, conversational pace, a low-intensity emotional landscape focused on internal dilemmas, and a signature bittersweet tone that questions the possibility of lasting love.
Character-driven stories where identity is explored through meandering dialogue.If you liked the conversational soul-searching in A Summer’s Tale, you'll enjoy these films. They feature characters figuring out who they are through long walks and deep talks, offering a gentle, reflective viewing experience centered on personal growth and relationship dynamics.
The narrative unfolds as a series of encounters and conversations that force a protagonist to confront their indecision or lack of self-knowledge. There is minimal external plot; conflict is internal and philosophical, resolved not by dramatic action but by the quiet realization and subtle change that emerges from dialogue.
This grouping is defined by a shared structure: a talkative, low-intensity pace where dialogue is the main driver of character development. The movies possess a moderate complexity from exploring internal dilemmas and relationships, with a medium emotional weight that feels authentic and grounded.
Don't stop at just watching — explore A Summer’s Tale in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what A Summer’s Tale is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Read a complete plot summary of A Summer’s Tale, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.
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Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape A Summer’s Tale. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about A Summer’s Tale: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like A Summer’s Tale that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
A Summer’s Tale (1996) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
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