Summer ’04

Summer ’04

Year: 2006

Runtime: 97 mins

Language: German

Director: Stefan Krohmer

RomanceDrama

A family’s seaside holiday serves as a character study, with German filmmaker Stefan Krohmer probing the hidden emotional void beneath their outwardly harmonious façade. As the vacation unfolds, the relatives confront guilt, love, jealousy and the underlying tensions that threaten the illusion of an intact family.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Summer ’04 (2006)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Summer ’04 (2006). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Summer 2004

The story unfolds over a sunlit Baltic summer in 2004, with the key events clustered in a single season. The plot references the August 2004 letter and events that culminate a few years later, anchoring the narrative in the early 2000s. The time frame highlights a fleeting, intense period before changes in relationships become lasting consequences.

Location

Schlei (Baltic Sea inlet), Gottorf Castle Landesmuseum, Baltic coast of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, Bill's house

The action unfolds along the Schlei, a narrow inlet of the Baltic Sea in northern Germany, giving the film a bright, breezy summer atmosphere. The family also visits Bill's home and the Gottorf Castle Landesmuseum during their stay, adding contrasts between leisure and culture. The coastal town backdrop and sightseeing stops provide a picturesque but emotionally tense stage for the unfolding drama.

🌊 Baltic coast setting 🗺️ Schleswig-Holstein locale 🏖️ Seaside vacation backdrop

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:24

Main Characters – Summer ’04 (2006)

Meet the key characters of Summer ’04 (2006), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Miriam Franz (Martina Gedeck)

Forty-year-old Miriam travels with her husband and son and soon becomes entangled with Bill. She wrestles with guilt and desire, rationalizing her actions while undermining the trust of her family. Her decisions drive the central conflict and culminate in a painful double life and a final, uneasy reunion.

💔 Infidelity 🎭 Drama ⚖️ Moral Dilemma

André Franz (Peter Davor)

Miriam's husband, who is quietly observant and initially unimpressed by Bill's advances toward Livia. He shows a pragmatic, emotionally restrained side and a tentative concern for his son's well-being. The strain between him and Miriam becomes a subtle undercurrent as the summer unfolds.

👪 Family 🎭 Drama ⚖️ Loyalty

Nils Franz (Lucas Kotaranin)

Miriam and André's fifteen-year-old son, more observant than outspoken, spends the summer absorbed in war documentaries while tensions mount around him. He questions his parents' decisions and ultimately calls out the deception that follows. His perspective highlights the generational distance and the impact of adult choices on youth.

🧒 Youth 🧭 Generational Gap 🎭 Drama

Livia (Svea Lohde)

Livia is the twelve-year-old guest whose presence catalyzes the adults' actions. She is drawn into Bill's orbit and experiences the tension between longing and safety, culminating in a fatal accident. Her letter years later reflects a desire for Miriam and Bill to be happy, underscoring her lasting influence on the story.

👧 Vulnerability 🎭 Drama ⚖️ Reality Check

Bill Ginger (Robert Seeliger)

An American with German roots who flirts with Livia and becomes the focus of Miriam's attraction. He ultimately falls for Livia and ends the affair with Miriam, later reuniting with her after Livia's death and starting a life together in the United States. His choices propel the tragedy and subsequent relationship with Miriam.

🧭 Temptation 💔 Infidelity 🎭 Drama

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:24

Major Themes – Summer ’04 (2006)

Explore the central themes of Summer ’04 (2006), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Forbidden Love

A central thread is Miriam's affair with Bill, which crosses boundaries of age and propriety and threatens the family dynamic. The romance is characterized by secrecy, self-justification, and escalating risk as desire clashes with responsibility. The film uses this theme to question what adults owe to themselves and to younger family members.

👪 Family Strain

The affair destabilizes the family unit and strains the bonds between Miriam, André, and their son Nils. Tensions surface as André remains skeptical of Bill and distance grows between him and Nils. The narrative tracks how secrets and conflicting loyalties fracture trust and alter family roles.

🕰️ Memory and Consequence

Actions ripple through time, with Livia's rising involvement and the eventual tragedy shaping the parents' future lives. The film foregrounds how choices made in a summer can echo years later, altering relationships and life trajectories. A reflective lens on accountability presses characters to confront what happened and what it means for happiness.

🌊 Temptation by the Sea

The seaside setting intensifies temptation and risk, using the open water and boats as a metaphor for crossing boundaries. Water, sails, and coastal locales become backdrops to flirtation, deception, and eventual consequences. The sea scene contrasts freedom with danger, underscoring the fragility of moral boundaries.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:24

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Summer ’04 Summary

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Summer ’04 Summary

Summer ’04 Timeline

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Summer ’04 Timeline

Summer ’04 Spoiler-Free Summary

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Summer ’04 Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Summer ’04

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Summer ’04 (2006) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

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Summer ’04 (2006) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow