Griffin in Summer

By the film’s closing night Griffin finally pieces his fractured summer back together. After countless arguments and a chaotic rehearsal, his friends—especially Kara, who returns from Maine—re‑join the production, and his mother Helen helps secure a modest local stage. The play is performed, not in the grand theater he dreamed of, but in a community space filled with the people who truly care about him. Brad, the older handyman who had become Griffin’s obsessive crush, never shows up; instead, Griffin receives a polite apology from him and a note of gratitude for having nudged Brad back toward his own art.

The real emotional pivot comes when a shy classmate named Mark appears at the after‑party. Their instant connection hints at a new, healthier romance, a contrast to the painful, one‑sided infatuation with Brad. As the party dwindles, Griffin stands at the edge of the pool, looks around at his friends—including the newly‑found Mark—and the camera lingers on his thoughtful face. The film then cuts to black just as he steps forward, implying that he finally jumps into the water.

That plunge is symbolic: throughout the summer Griffin has been a boy stuck on the shore, haunted by his parents’ failing marriage, his friends’ indifference, and an impossible crush. By diving, he lets go of that “ball of sadness” that has weighed him down, embracing the support of his mother, the renewed camaraderie with his peers, and the promise of fresh love. The ending leaves us with a feeling of liberation and the quiet confidence that Griffin’s summer—despite its turbulence—has become a turning point toward a more hopeful, connected future.

Last Updated: December 27, 2025 at 21:40