"Summer of Mesa" is a 2020 movie about growing up and love. It was written and directed by Josh Cox, who was 20 years old when it was made. The story takes place in 1985 on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The film features actors Molly Miles, Andrea Granera, and Alec Bandzes. It follows the relationship between Lily, a 16-year-old girl, and Mesa, another girl her age, whom she meets on the peninsula.
Plot
Lily Peony is a bright sixteen-year-old girl who spends her summers on Cape Cod with her grandmother, Anna. During past summers, Lily and her family became close friends with a local family: Velma, a single mother, and her teenage son, John. In the summer of 1985, after spending some time away from the area, Lily and John begin a grown-up and surprising relationship. They both quickly develop strong feelings for each other. That same summer, Lily meets Mesa, a teenage girl who impresses Lily with her clear confidence and striking beauty. Mesa shows a strong interest in becoming Lily's friend, drawn to Lily's calm and mature personality. As they spend time together, Lily notices that her feelings for Mesa are very different from the feelings she has when she is with John. This causes Lily to feel confused about who she is and whether her feelings for Mesa are more important than her relationship with John, which seems more traditional but less exciting.
Cast
- Molly Miles plays the role of Lily Peony
- Andrea Granera plays the role of Mesa
- Alec Bandzes plays the role of John "Johnny" Valentine
- Patricia Ellis plays the role of Anna Peony
- Kristin Stearns-Stewart plays the role of Velma Valentine
- William Cummings plays the role of Noah
Production
The main filming took place on Cape Cod over six days with a budget of $400. During the shoot, Cox was the only person on the crew.
Release
The film was first shown on YouTube on May 22, 2020, as the film's global release and had more than 100,000 views during its first week.
Reception
The film Summer of Mesa has received good reviews from movie critics and is listed on important LGBTQ+ film watchlists, including those from GCN Magazine. On the website Rotten Tomatoes, the film is praised by online sources such as Flickering Myth, which compares Summer of Mesa to The Notebook but for LGBTQ+ teenagers. Rob Rector of Film Threat describes the film as a "light, gentle, and dreamy story that shows the beauty and sadness of summer love."
Sequel
A new movie was announced on May 27, 2021, through the film's official Instagram account and the indie-film website The Fandomentals. The sequel will continue to follow the main character, Mesa, as she explores her feelings about her identity during one summer after the events of the first film.
In an interview with the lesbian media company Lesflicks, filmmaker Josh Cox described the sequel as different from common romance movies, which often focus on making two characters fall in love. Instead, he said the story centers on "[a] person who is part of the LGBTQ+ community dealing with difficult emotions and trying to move past them."