Winter Spring Summer or Fall
Winter Spring Summer or Fall | |
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Directed by | Tiffany Paulsen |
Screenplay by | Dan Schoffer |
Produced by |
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Starring | |
Cinematography | Graham Robbins |
Edited by | Simon Davidson |
Music by | Zac Rae |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | |
Release dates |
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Running time | 97 minutes[1] |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Winter Spring Summer or Fall is an American 2024 romantic drama film directed by Tiffany Paulsen from a screenplay by Dan Schoffer. Starring Jenna Ortega and Percy Hynes White in leading roles, the story follows four segments in different seasons, showing two teenagers who fall in love over four days in a year.
Filming took place in late-2022 in Salt Lake City after about two years of development. The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival on June 6, 2024, and was released digitally on April 25, 2025.
Plot
One winter day, on his way to a concert in New York City, Barnes Hawthorne sees Remi Aguilar at the train station as she prepares to tour Columbia University, having sneaking her earlier at PJ's neighborhood. They strike up a conversation on the train about their future plans; Remi aims to attend Harvard University to become a lawyer like her parents, while Barnes plans to take a gap year without any goals. Remi suggests some hobbies, like volunteering for sea turtles, while Barnes suggests a playlist of Talking Heads. Coincidentally, as they reach their stop, Remi is struck by a cyclist and needs stitches. At the hospital, Remi gently declines Barnes' offer to date, explaining that she does not want such person at the moment.
Months later in the spring, on the prom day, Remi's parents give her an unsolicited sex talk despite her resistance, and hands her a few condoms just in case. Elsewhere, Barnes asks his mother if he can borrow the car to take his ex-girlfriend, Erica, to the prom. On her way, Remi's date sees the condoms in her purse and assumes she intends to sleep with him, which she does not. At the prom, Remi and Barnes confront eachother and dance to "Burning Down the House" as their dates ditch them, but when a slow song comes on, Barnes suggests Remi they should leave for sushi.
During dinner, Barnes reveals fluency in Japanese, having lived in Japan until age 11 while his mother was stationed there as an Army medic. He shares he is considering volunteering in Costa Rica, inspired by Remi's earlier suggestion. Afterward, he takes Remi to his house and assures he has no bad intentions upon her concerns. They smoke the joint Remi got from PJ at the prom. Barnes admits he only came at the prom hoping to see Remi. They kiss, but Remi reminds him she is leaving for Harvard in four months, so nothing can happen between them. Undeterred, the two stay together for the summer.
On a day in summer, Remi and Barnes sit on PJ's roof, smoking and watching Remi's dad paint their house crimson in honor of Remi going to Harvard. Remi also plans on volunteering in Costa Rica with Barnes instead, which she has been contemplating for months now. Barnes encourages Remi to tell her parents. Upon knowing, her parents react angrily considering her future. When she insists on going, they ground her, but Remi brushes them off and leaves with Barnes to a lake house party to celebrate the 4th of July. There, Remi crashes PJ's jeep after drunk driving. She thinks taking a gap year is not the right decision and argue with Barnes by the lake, ultimately breaking up.
In the fall, Remi is attending Harvard when she sees an Instagram post indicating Barnes is also in Boston. She is working as a waiter, while he is working as an assistant to a record label and touring with a band. She starts chatting online and thet catch up on the campus. Though admitting to miss each other, they both agree that their breakup may have been for the best. Remi invites him to a Halloween party, but he has a concert that night. Encouraged by her friends, Remi decides to express her true feelings. She sneaks into the concert venue, chased by security, but Barnes vouches for her. She confesses she still has feelings for him and asks if they can try again despite knowing it will be challenging. Barnes gently turns her down, saying they are better off as friends. Remi respects his decision and leaves in tears.
Later, on the tour bus, the band encourages Barnes to confront his true feelings for her, after which Barnes realizes his mistake in turning her down. The band helps Barnes by serenading Remi outside her dorm. Remi peers out her window, speechless, before coming outside. She and Barnes share unspoken glances before reuniting with a kiss.
Cast
- Jenna Ortega as Remi Aguilar
- Percy Hynes White as Barnes Hawthorne
- Marisol Nichols as Carmen, Remi's mother
- Elias Kacavas as PJ
- Adam Rodriguez as Javier, Remi's father
- Jacqueline Emerson as Robyn
- Evangeline Barrosse as herself
- Kate Rachesky as Wendy
- Alexis Zollicoffer as Sheryl
- Garet Allen as Dean
- Larkin Bell as Saira
- Corynn Treadwell as Ashley Middleton
- Kylee Anderson as Erica Morris
- Langi Tuifua as Connor Frisk
- Joey Miyashima as Kenji
- Wendy Joseph as Kate
- Ahaise as Wade
- Bridget Oberlin as Stevie, Barnes' mother
- Terran Lowe as Lucas
- BZ Collins as a bouncer
- Michael Turner as a bassist
- Cameron Foremaster as a guitarist
- Brianna Wendorf as a drummer
- Mark Provencher as Mr. Provencher
Production
Devopment
After she had done Holidate in 2020, Tiffany Paulsen reveived an early version of the script by Dan Schoffer, through the co-producer Josh Shader. They collaborated to finalize the script, and Paulsen took the charge to direct her first film, with Brad Krevoy and David M. Wulf also joining as co-producers.[2][4][3]
Casting and filming
Paulsen cast Jenna Ortega just before the latter went on to film Wednesday in September 2021. Reportedly, this has been Ortega's first romantic role and she has also served as an executive producer, while being known as "Gen Z's scream queen"[a] for her primary choice of horror film genres and not liking the romantic genres.[5][6][7][2]
After about two years of pre-production, the principal photography began on Halloween, in October 2022, at Salt Lake City, Utah, with Percy Hynes White joining opposite Ortega in lead.[2][8][9][6] Meanwhile, the cast was given a three-week break to cover promotional events for their then-upcoming series Wednesday, which later became the second most-watched series on the platform.[10][11][3]
Over the time, Motion Picture Corporation of America revealed to the Deadline Hollywood that Marisol Nichols and Adam Rodriguez were signed in as Ortega's character's parents, Elias Kacavas as their neighbour.[12][13][14][2] Evangeline Barrosse, an indie musician, was discovered and approached to perform her original songs in the film.[15][4]
The film is set in the East Coast of the United States and depicts one day each from four seasons; winter, spring, summer, and fall, so the set and the wardrobe had to be designed accordingly despite being filmed in winter season with limited sunny days. Paulsen also took a formal permission to use Talking Head's David Byrne to use their song "Burning Down the House".[2][4]
Post-production
After the filming wrapped up, the post-production phase started in January 2023, but the release was shelved. The film is said to be inspired by Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise. Graham Robbins served as the cinematographer, Simon Davidson as film editor, and Mike Turner as the music supervisor, while Zac Rae has composed the film score.[16][17][2][4][1]
Release
The film premiered at the 23rd Tribeca Festival on June 6, 2024.[18][19] It was released digitally by Paramount Pictures on April 25, 2025, and also had a limited theatrical release.[20][21]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 36% of 14 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.5/10.[22]
Lovia Gyarkye praised the director while writing for The Hollywood Reporter, saying that she has an "intuitive sense" of making one blush by capturing close-ups of "the longing gazes" and "subtle touches" between the lead pair.[1] Belen Edwards commented for Mashable that this "Wednesday reunion is anything but charming" as their "romance feels more like horror".[23] Writing for Next Best Picture, Lauren LaMagna praised it as a "unique coming-of-age story", which is both "heartwarming and heartbreaking" and "captures the essence of first love".[24] Will Bjarnar commented for InSession Film that the film "is hardly ever convincing, let alone natural".[25] For Paste, Jesse Hassenger called it "more than a little cheap-looking" movie, which is "full of heartfelt contrivances".[26]
Notes
- ^ Refer to Jenna Ortega, a "Gen Z's scream queen"
References
- ^ a b c Lovia Gyarkye (June 7, 2024). "'Winter Spring Summer or Fall' Review: Jenna Ortega and Percy Hynes White Anchor a Feathery Romance". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g Karen Benardello (June 16, 2024). "Tribeca/Winter Spring Summer or Fall: Interview with Director". Cinema Daily US. Archived from the original on June 17, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
- ^ a b c Hilary Lewis (June 19, 2024). "'Winter Spring Summer or Fall' Director on Helming Her First Movie With Jenna Ortega, Percy Hynes White Amid 'Wednesday' Frenzy". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 23, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Owen Danoff (June 7, 2024). "Winter Spring Summer Or Fall Director Tiffany Paulsen On Jenna Ortega's First Romance". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on June 7, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
- ^ Bradley (September 13, 2021). "Tim Burton's 'Wednesday' Series Officially Begins Filming at Netflix [Exclusive]". Midgard Times. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
- ^ a b Justin Kroll (December 15, 2022). "Jenna Ortega & Her 'Wednesday' Co-Star Percy Hynes White Reunite On Tiffany Paulsen's Directorial Debut 'Winter Spring Summer Or Fall'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- ^ Hunter Harris (March 7, 2023). "Jenna Ortega is watching you". Elle. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ Tim Lammers (June 5, 2024). "Director On Magic Of Jenna Ortega In New Movie With 'Wednesday' Co-Star". Forbes. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
- ^ Katie Louise Smith (December 9, 2022). "Jenna Ortega and Percy Hynes White are playing love interests in a new romcom". Capital FM. Archived from the original on November 10, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
- ^ Adam Bentz (June 20, 2023). "Wednesday Finally Beats Stranger Things On Netflix's Most Popular Shows Chart (With A Twist) 4". ScreenRant. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ Ethan Shanfeld (January 14, 2025). "'Squid Game 2' Becomes Netflix's Third Most-Watched Season Ever, After 'Squid Game 1' and 'Wednesday'". Variety. Archived from the original on April 1, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
- ^ Justin Kroll (December 16, 2022). "Adam Rodriguez Joins Jenna Ortega In 'Winter Spring Summer Or Fall'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
- ^ Matt Grobar (February 17, 2023). "Marisol Nichols Joins Jenna Ortega In Romantic Drama 'Winter Spring Summer Or Fall'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 8, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- ^ Denise Petski (April 3, 2023). "'Pretty Little Liars: Summer School': Elias Kacavas Upped To Series Regular For Season 2". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ Sophia June (March 14, 2023). "Meet Evangeline, The Indie Musician About To Star Alongside Jenna Ortega". Nylon. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ Ariz. Gilbert (May 16, 2024). "Mike Turner, a CRAS Graduate, Who Didn't Even Know What a Music Supervisor Was Until Age 30, Now Excels in His Career with Numerous Award Nomination and Wins". Recording Magazine. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ Tim Lammers (June 5, 2024). "Percy Hynes White Director: 'I Look Forward To Working With Him Again'". Forbes. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
- ^ Hilary Lewis (April 17, 2024). "Tribeca Festival 2024 to Feature Jenna Ortega, Kristen Stewart and Lily Gladstone Movies". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ Tim Lammers (May 6, 2024). "Jenna Ortega Movie With 'Wednesday' Co-Star Gets World Premiere Date". Forbes. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ Alex West (April 15, 2025). "Little-known Jenna Ortega 2024 movie finally gets release date after controversy". The Mirror US. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ Tim Lammers (April 25, 2025). "Jenna Ortega's 'Winter Spring Summer Or Fall' Is New On Streaming - How To Watch". Forbes. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ Winter Spring Summer or Fall at Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
- ^ Belen Edwards (June 7, 2024). "'Winter Spring Summer or Fall' review: Jenna Ortega's romance makes us want to scream". Mashable. Archived from the original on December 7, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ Lauren LaMagna (June 8, 2024). ""Winter Spring Summer or Fall" - Review". Next Best Picture. Archived from the original on November 8, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ Will Bjarnar (June 12, 2024). "Movie Review (Tribeca 2024): 'Winter Spring Summer or Fall' is an Empty YA Romance". InSession Film. Archived from the original on June 12, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ Jesse Hassenger (June 17, 2024). "Winter Spring Summer or Fall Review: Jenna Ortega Says Anything". Paste Magazine. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
External links
- 2024 films
- American romantic drama films
- 2020s English-language films
- 2024 romantic drama films
- 2020s American films
- English-language romantic drama films
- Films shot in Salt Lake City
- Films set on trains
- Winter in culture
- Spring (season) in culture
- Summer in culture
- Autumn in culture
- American coming-of-age drama films
- American teen drama films
- American teen romance films
- 2020s coming-of-age drama films
- Coming-of-age romance films
- 2020s teen romance films
- English-language teen drama films