The Four Seasons

The Four Seasons

Year: 1981

Runtime: 107 mins

Language: English

RomanceDramaComedy

Three affluent, middle‑aged couples rotate a series of vacations set in spring, summer, autumn and winter, using the scenic getaways to confront mid‑life, marital, parental and other personal crises, all while celebrating friendship and the patience required to endure each other.

The Four Seasons (1981) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

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In a world where the rhythm of the year dictates the pace of friendship, three prosperous, middle‑aged couples from New York City carve out a ritual of quarterly getaways. Each season—spring’s bloom, summer’s heat, autumn’s amber, winter’s chill—provides a picturesque backdrop for the friends to step away from their demanding careers and suburban comforts, allowing them to pause, reflect, and, inevitably, confront the subtle tremors of mid‑life that lie just beneath the surface of their polished lives.

The group is a study in contrasts. Jack Burroughs is a principled lawyer whose moral compass often steers the conversation, while his wife Kate wields the influence of a Fortune magazine editor, balancing sharp intellect with a keen eye for detail. Nick Callan, an insurance salesman and estate planner, carries a restless energy that sometimes masks deeper uncertainties; his partner Anne, a housewife turned photographer, finds solace in capturing the quiet beauty of everyday objects. Danny Zimmer is a dentist whose fastidious habits and health anxieties add a quirky, sometimes neurotic flavor to the mix, and his wife Claudia is an unapologetically bold Italian painter whose fiery temperament provides both spark and friction.

Their seasonal journeys become more than mere vacations; they are carefully curated experiences that mirror the internal cycles each character endures. From secluded forest cabins to sparkling seaside sails, from campus‑town retreats to snow‑capped ski lodges, the settings amplify both the camaraderie and the quiet tensions that surface when friends share intimate moments away from the routine. The tone balances gentle humor with poignant observation, inviting the audience to savor the interplay of laughter, lingering doubts, and the resilient patience required to endure one another’s imperfections.

Through witty dialogue, understated drama, and a warm, almost lyrical visual palette, the film paints a portrait of friendship that is simultaneously comforting and unsettling. It asks what it means to grow older together, to celebrate shared histories while navigating new personal horizons, and whether the ritual of returning each quarter can hold together the delicate tapestry of love, ambition, and the inevitable change that each season brings.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 22:59

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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 dramedies about midlife friendships like The Four Seasons

Stories where long-term friends navigate the messy realities of middle age.If you liked the mix of humor and heartache in The Four Seasons, you'll appreciate these movies about middle-aged friends confronting change. This list features relatable stories of marital strain, personal growth, and the bittersweet dynamics of long-term bonds, perfect for fans of thoughtful relationship comedies.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative typically follows a close-knit group of friends, often couples, as they confront the anxieties and disappointments of middle age. Conflicts arise from infidelity, career dissatisfaction, or the emptiness of the 'empty nest,' forcing characters to re-evaluate their lives and relationships. The structure often uses a specific timeframe or recurring event to measure these changes.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared focus on the bittersweet emotional landscape of midlife, blending genuine moments of friendship and humor with underlying tensions. They share a medium intensity and steady pacing, allowing for character-driven exploration rather than high-stakes plot.

Movies with seasonal vacations framing relationships like The Four Seasons

Dramas that use changing seasons or getaways to mirror evolving relationships.Find more movies like The Four Seasons that use a seasonal or vacation structure to tell stories about relationships. These films often show characters in beautiful locations, using the backdrop of time passing or travel to highlight the evolution of their bonds, conflicts, and personal transformations.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative is organized around a cyclical or sequential structure, such as the four seasons, annual holidays, or a series of trips. Each segment introduces new developments or tensions, allowing the audience to see the characters and their relationships evolve over a significant period. The external environment directly reflects the internal emotional states of the characters.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their unique structural device, which creates a distinct pacing and thematic depth. The shared experience of a vacation or the metaphor of seasonal change provides a cohesive framework for stories about love, friendship, and personal crisis, resulting in a reflective and often melancholic vibe.

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The Four Seasons Summary

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The Four Seasons Summary

The Four Seasons Timeline

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The Four Seasons Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Four Seasons

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Four Seasons

More About The Four Seasons

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