Edge of Summer

Lucy Cohen delivers a tender coming-of-age tale bristling with angsty adolescence in Edge of Summer. The plot sees Evie (Flora Hylton) travel to Cornwall with her mother (Josie Walker) on holiday. While her mother spends an increasing amount of time with Tony (Stefan Rhodri), a family friend who may be more than just a friend, the youngster befriends a local boy named Adam (Joel Sefton-Iongi). With both of their dads out of the picture, the pair find a kinship with each other. However, they soon discover that the adults in their lives have been keeping secrets from them after they have a startling encounter in the abandoned tin mine.

There’s a tinge of the supernatural in Cohen’s film as it draws upon Cornish folklore to incorporate knockers into the mix: Gnome-like creatures who knock on the walls of mines to warn workers of dangers, these benevolent fairies are also believed to be the spirits of dead miners. Ghosts becomes a running motif throughout this flick as the metaphorical ghosts of the past begin to haunt the children, especially in relation to what happened to Adam’s father.

Both newcomers Hylton and Sefton-Iongi are incredible in their debut roles. A large part of the emotional pay-off rests on their young shoulders, with the pair effortlessly delivering a series of monumental gut punches. There’s a warm chemistry shared onscreen between them that makes watching their budding relationship an absolute delight. Walker, too, is fantastic as Evie’s mother, who’s just as affected by the absence of her daughter’s father as she is.

Whereas similar coming-of-age films see their protagonist undergo a euphoric change as they enter a new chapter of their lives, Cohen’s characters experience more of a sombre acceptance of the pain and hardship of the adult world once they step outside of their protective childhoods. Although they’re both understandably angry at being lied to, with both lashing out in the ways adolescents do best, Cohen likewise captures the raw emotion of what Evie and Adam are going through. The result is a fascinating spin on familiar territory that contains just as much heart as any of its peers.

By mixing a supernatural element with a more mature take on the coming-of-age genre, Cohen has crafted a truly remarkable feature carried by its talented young stars.

Andrew Murray

Edge of Summer does not have a UK release date yet.

Read more reviews from our Glasgow Film Festival 2024 coverage here.

For further information about the event visit the Glasgow Film Festival website here.