A multi-ethnic family, marked by the sudden death of the mother, celebrates Christmas in Argentina in keeping with her family tradition. The American father must decide if this will be their last Christmas there, knowing that distance will gradually wash away the family bond.

Juror comments: I thoroughly enjoyed Christmas Summer. The technical aspects are spectacular.

The characters, particularly the young protagonist show great development and present a person that other youth can relate to.

The story follows a young girl who must reconcile with her future in a strange land, away from everything she has known. After the sudden death of her mother, she and her father go to Argentina to celebrate Christmas with her mother’s family to keep the connection strong between them.

While the film’s characters and plot are pretty predictable, the production is excellent. The impact comes from the directing and production more than the dialogue. Although it only scratches the surface of multi-cultural family issues, it is an interesting topic that is not uncommon. In many ways, it shows a wholesomeness in the family dynamic and is definitely a "feel-good" movie. The plot is not unusual. After introducing the characters, their intentions are clear and the plot could be easily predicted. The characters are not particularly complex. The story is revealed through the eyes of a young girl. I love that the camera level matches that of the child’s point of view, rather than that of an adult. It allows younger audiences to further resonate with the film. For example, at the beginning of the film, an overhead shot is used to show the father packing and the young girl is looking out from a window. It shows the girl's importance in the move compared to her father’s. The quality of the camerawork is quite good, as is the audio. The characters’ voices are crisp and are clearly the focus of the entire film. The story is set in Argentina. The father and daughter’s attire is very typically American. This contrast is highlighted to the Argentinian clothing worn by others. The sets and the locations fit the story, most of which is quite intimate so the locations in private homes, contribute to that feeling. The background music and sound effects are sparingly used as the focus is on the dialogue of the characters, which tells the story. The intro and outro music are both well suited to the film and the outro music is particularly uplifting. In the broader picture, the young girl deals with sudden change as she visits Argentina – her mother’s homeland. At the start, she has not fully gripped reality. She lives under a blanket of childhood innocence. Over time, she begins to adjust under her father's guidance. It is also noteworthy that the director has created a certain intimacy by using close-up shots to highlight the emotions and development of the relationship between the father and daughter.

The film’s message is about the bond of family and the ties that bind us. While moving a great distance may strain the family relationship, the truth is that everyone will manage to get through it. It shows that family is of the utmost importance and the bonds of family are stronger than anything.

I give this film 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 10 to 18, plus adults. The film qualifies as a special interest topic under multi-cultural. The young protagonist faces life in a multi-cultural family. She deals with frustration as her life is turned upside down by a sudden move to Argentina. Reviewed by Kayla P.