Cheap Hot Summer (Widescreen Edition) (DVD) (Joachim Hasler) Price

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Customer Reviews of Hot Summer (Widescreen Edition)

Okay, enough analysis
Personally, I did not see the documentary 'East Side Story,' so I have no idea how this film fits into a larger social framework, or anything like that. What I do know is that this is very possibly one of the funniest movies I have seen in a long time. If you're a fan of Oststalgie, then this movie is definitely for you! Truly you have not lived until you have seen two people dressed up as haystacks performing a choreographed number. Buy it and show all of your friends; it will make the world a happier place!

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Cleancut Commie Fun
While not a world class musical, "Hot Summer" was certainly in the league of its contemporary American models. If you've seen the documentary about communist bloc musicals, "East Side Story," you know that because of the communist system DEFA made very few musical comedies, so it's amazing that this film is as good and polished as it is. The director was talented and several of the actor/singers are very charismatic and likely would have done well in the West. In some ways the characters were more mature than their counterparts in Hollywood beach movies. For example, one character discusses the possibility of pregnancy.

Still, this is a fun film. I hope Ice Storm International and First Run Features will bring out DEFA's "Midnight Revue" and "No Cheating Darling;" I think they'd do well.

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A BLAST OF A FILM!!
I would agree with everything the last reviewer said abotu this film EXCEPT for the political part. This film was made by DEFA, the East German state run film company. While on the surface it does seem like an innocent film about prank playing teenagers at a beach on summer vacation, I believe there is a subtext of conformaity and a celebration of East German industry.
The group of 10 guys and 11 girls can almost be seen as one person. They are almsot identical to each other...a theme even more reinforced by the scripted dance scenes. When one of them breaks from the group to be with a girl, it is up to the group to "save him" from himself (quoted quite nicely in the line, "Are we a group? Or a common bunch of thugs"..sorry something to that effect I don't have my tape with me to refrence the line).
Also apperaing throughout the film are symbols of East German industry...farming, fishing..and to top it off quite nicely a shot of speeding train wheels (along with the train) that Eistenstein himself would be proud to see.
Also to note while most DEFA films (Traces of Stone, Berlin Sholhazen? corner) portrays the EG police as no better then the STASI (secret police) here we have accepting, almost sympathetic police officers who help the kids out of a jam.
Overall though a very fun viewing on many diferent levels.