Summer of '42

Brooks Wilson - Knotty Girls Small Group

Ah, “The Summer of 42.” What a deliciously simple time. Or was it?

This movie, directed by Robert Mulligan (whose more famous, Oscar-winning film was “To Kill a Mockingbird”) was made in 1971 – about 30 years after the famous titular summer and about 30 years ago. It is a coming-of-age story of an awkward young man (is there any other kind?) and his clueless friends. And yet, the goofy, lust-struck and love-struck boys and the dreamy object of their affection seem as timeless as the sands of the beach where the story is set. After a tragedy of war, a young widow (the luminous Jennifer O’Neal) seeks solace in our hero, who in turn learns the ways of the world, shall we say, from her during that fateful summer.

Our block inspiration comes from the opening scene of a sunrise – with all the gold, red, orange and yellows ablaze over the ocean. The sunrise holds promise for all that the summer can hold – exploration, sexual fulfillment, love found and love lost. So, our “Summer of 42” block will be made in red, orange and yellow – with our hope for you that your summer is filled with everything you could wish for.