A Summer Story

A Summer Story

Year: 1988

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: English

Director: Piers Haggard

RomanceDrama

A young London lawyer, Ashton, injures his ankle while hiking Dartmoor and seeks refuge at a nearby farmhouse. There he meets the innocent and beautiful Megan David, and their growing affection blossoms into a passionate romance. Their love faces opposition from Megan’s disapproving aunt and her boorish son, adding tension to the idyllic countryside setting.

A Summer Story (1988) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at A Summer Story (1988) 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 bright, heat‑stained summer of 1902, the rugged sweep of Dartmoor spreads like a living tapestry, its wind‑torn hills and quiet farmsteads humming with the ordinary rhythms of rural life. The landscape feels both timeless and intimate, a place where the land itself seems to hold its breath, waiting for the brief moments that stir its calm.

Frank Ashton, a cultured London barrister accustomed to the polished corridors of the city courts, sets out on a solitary walking holiday that quickly turns precarious when a misstep leaves him with a twisted ankle. Seeking shelter, he finds himself at a modest farmhouse tucked among the moor’s gentle rises, where the world he knows—a world of statutes, logic, and genteel society—collides with a harsher, more tactile reality.

There, Megan David appears—a village girl whose kindness is as steady as the pasture’s rhythm. Her gentle care for his injury and the unguarded warmth of her smile awaken in him a curiosity that the city has long kept at bay. Between them, a quiet, tentative bond begins to form, their conversations drifting like the clouds overhead, hinting at a romance that feels both inevitable and fragile amid the moor’s open air.

Yet the idyll is not without its shadows. Megan’s family, bound by the customs of the countryside, watches the outsider with cautious eyes, and a stern aunt alongside a brusque cousin stand ready to challenge any disruption to their way of life. The tension between Frank’s polished ambitions and the simple, steadfast values of the farm creates a subtle undercurrent, suggesting that the pair must navigate not only their own hearts but also the expectations of a world that resists change. The film settles into a mood of yearning and quiet suspense, letting the breezy landscape mirror the delicate dance of love and duty that unfolds within it.

Last Updated: December 03, 2025 at 23:49

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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.

Bittersweet Summer Romances like A Summer Story

Idealized summer affairs that end with a poignant sense of longing and regret.If you liked the poignant, nostalgic feel of A Summer Story, explore more movies about fleeting summer loves. These films capture the intensity of a seasonal affair set in idyllic locations, often ending with a bittersweet mix of beautiful memories and profound regret for what was lost.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives typically follow a predictable but emotionally potent arc: an intense, almost dreamlike romantic connection blossoms quickly in a temporary setting (like a holiday). This idyll is threatened or shattered by real-world constraints—such as class differences, family disapproval, or simply a return to normal life—leaving the characters with a permanent emotional scar and a lifetime of reflection.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared focus on the ephemeral nature of a perfect romance, a melancholic and reflective tone, and an ending that is more about the beauty and pain of memory than a conventional happy resolution. The pacing is often deliberate to soak in the atmosphere.

Movies about Regretful Memories like A Summer Story

Stories framed by recollection, where a character is haunted by a pivotal romantic choice.Find films similar to A Summer Story that explore themes of memory and regret. These stories often feature a protagonist looking back on a life-altering romance, grappling with the pain of their choices and the enduring ghost of a lost love, resulting in a deeply reflective and melancholic mood.

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Narrative Summary

The plot structure frequently uses a framing device, beginning in the present with a seemingly settled but emotionally hollow protagonist. The core of the story is a flashback to a passionate, formative romance that ended due to a choice made (or not made) by the protagonist. The return to the present underscores the permanent emotional cost of that decision, highlighting themes of sacrifice and the weight of social expectations.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a specific emotional journey centered on regret and the power of memory. They are united by a melancholic tone, a reflective pacing that allows for deep immersion in the protagonist's emotional state, and a narrative that prioritizes emotional truth over plot complexity. The experience is one of poignant reflection.

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A Summer Story Summary

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A Summer Story Summary

A Summer Story Timeline

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A Summer Story Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in A Summer Story

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Characters, Settings & Themes in A Summer Story

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