Summertree

Jerry visits his parents to tell them he is considering dropping out of university to 'find himself.' They worry about wasted tuition and the Vietnam War draft looming over his future. The scene sets up the central conflict between personal growth and societal pressures in 1970.

Inspired by a television advertisement, Jerry volunteers as a Big Brother to Marvis, a Black child in need of guidance. They form a bond as they navigate daily life, giving Jerry a sense of purpose amid uncertain plans for his future. The arrangement also introduces social and cultural tensions into his world.

When Marvis is slightly injured in a fall, Jerry accompanies him to a hospital where he meets nurse Vanetta. A connection grows between Jerry and Vanetta, and they begin a romantic relationship. Vanetta's age and past add complexity to their budding romance.

Driven by his confidence in his self-taught guitar, Jerry drops out and auditions for the conservatorium. He lands a regular gig at a local coffeehouse while awaiting the outcome. The decision marks a shift from formal education to pursuing his own musical path.

Herb receives Jerry's draft notice after learning he dropped out. Jerry remains hopeful that admission to the conservatorium will restore his deferment, but the draft's shadow grows larger with each passing day. The moment intensifies the stakes of his future choices.

Jerry's conservatorium audition is impressive, but he is rejected for lack of formal training. The setback undercuts his plan to maintain draft deferral through education and fuels his drive to find another route around the draft. The disappointment adds urgency to his quest to avoid induction.

With no deferment secured, Jerry explores ways to evade the draft, but his options are limited. The efforts highlight the tension between his personal ambitions and the societal pressures of the Vietnam War. The looming draft becomes a constant presence in his daily life.

Marvis's older brother is killed in Vietnam, and Marvis directs his anger at Jerry, ending their Big Brother relationship. The tragedy underscores the war's impact on families and friendships and intensifies Jerry's feeling of being pulled into a larger conflict. The fallout tests Jerry's ability to cope with loss and responsibility.

Tony, Vanetta's husband who served in Vietnam, returns in his Marine uniform and confronts Jerry. He tells Jerry that Vanetta promised to wait for him, complicating Jerry and Vanetta's relationship. The encounter foreshadows heartbreak and the fragility of their bond.

Jerry buys an old Ford Falcon and plans to flee to Canada to evade induction. The tangible escape plan underscores the urgency of leaving and starting anew elsewhere. The car becomes the vehicle of his attempted exit from the war's reach.

The night before induction, Jerry tells his parents he plans to go to Canada, sparking a heated family argument. Despite initial resistance, Herb seems to accept the decision but urges one last safety check on the car. The tension culminates in a somber mood about the coming separation.

On the day of departure, Herb quietly tries to bribe a gas-station mechanic to disable Jerry's car for a few days. The act reveals a desperate, fraught attempt to alter the course of events. Jerry overhears the plan and begins to feel the weight of his family's involvement in his fate.

Jerry bursts into tears and drives his car out of the station, colliding with a car being towed. The failed escape marks the end of his bid to flee and foreshadows a grim consequence connected to the war. The wreck serves as a dramatic turning point in the story.

Herb and Ruth go to bed as their bedroom television broadcasts news from Vietnam. The film ends with a close-up of a dying Jerry being carried away by fellow soldiers, underscoring the war's ultimate cost on ordinary families. The final image leaves the audience with a stark, haunting message about sacrifice and loss.