Summer Within

Director: Adam Golub and Summer Minerva
Release Year: 2023

"Summer Within" (2023), a deeply personal and groundbreaking documentary by Adam Golub and Summer Minerva, is a compelling exploration of identity, ancestry, and belonging. Through the lens of Summer Minerva, a queer and trans artist from Staten Island, the film weaves a journey that connects her personal quest for self-understanding with a broader historical narrative about gender and culture. The documentary delves into Minerva’s search for her roots within both her Italian American heritage and her own identity as a gender-fluid artist.

 

At its heart, "Summer Within" is not only a trans story but also a tale of discovering one's queer ancestry and understanding how these ancient traditions can help redefine the modern search for belonging. The film begins with Summer’s struggle to fit into her conservative Italian American community. As an eccentric, gender-fluid artist, Summer has always felt like an outsider among her family and community, where traditional gender roles and expectations are the norm. Her quest for self-understanding leads her to seek answers about her family’s past, particularly from her grandmother, Nonna, who emigrated from Italy over fifty years ago. Summer hopes that by learning more about her grandmother's life, she can find deeper connections to her roots. However, this journey proves to be more complicated than Summer anticipated. Nonna's deteriorating mental health due to dementia prevents her from providing the answers Summer seeks. 

 

With her connection to her family’s past slipping away, Summer decides to travel to Naples, Italy, the birthplace of her grandmother. This decision marks the beginning of a transformative journey that takes her not only across countries but also into a deeper understanding of herself. Upon arriving in Naples, Summer is introduced to the tradition of the "femminielli", an ancient group of people in Southern Italy who are recognized as a third gender. The femminielli are revered for their roles in performing rituals believed to bring good luck to the community. They also fulfill roles typically associated with femininity, such as childcare, while embodying a unique form of gender expression that doesn’t fit neatly into the traditional male-female binary. As Summer learns more about this tradition, she finds herself drawn to the femminielli, who offer her a different way of understanding identity and belonging - one that challenges societal norms and celebrates fluidity in gender and expression. Throughout the documentary, 

 

Summer’s journey unfolds not just as a search for her family’s past, but as a discovery of an ancient, queer lineage that has been part of her heritage all along. The femminielli's tradition of acceptance and life-affirming community speaks to Summer’s own longing for belonging in a world that often marginalizes those who do not fit traditional gender expectations. As she connects with members of the femminielli community in Naples, Summer begins to feel a sense of home, a connection to her ancestors that transcends her family’s more restrictive views on gender. The film also touches on the emotional complexities of Summer’s search. In the midst of her exploration of her heritage, she faces personal heartbreak that adds a layer of vulnerability to her story. This heartbreak prompts a deep reflection on the nature of love and belonging. What does it mean to be loved for who you truly are? What does it mean to find a place where you can exist authentically, without fear of rejection or marginalization? These questions resonate throughout the film, as Summer navigates the complexities of family, identity, and history.

 

Directed by Summer Minerva, an independent researcher, multidisciplinary artist, and educator from Staten Island, and Adam Golub, "Summer Within" offers a rare glimpse into a part of queer history that is often overlooked. The femminielli’s existence and acceptance in Southern Italy for centuries provide a powerful narrative of resilience and community. This tradition not only affirms Summer’s sense of identity but also shows her that acceptance of non-binary gender expressions is not a new phenomenon, but rather a long-standing part of her cultural heritage. The film is a poignant, autobiographical documentary that weaves together personal, familial, and historical narratives. Summer’s exploration of her Italian American roots and her gender identity reflects a broader, universal search for connection and self-understanding. Through her interactions with the femminielli, she uncovers a path to healing and self-acceptance, which is rooted in a tradition that challenges the limitations of gender norms.

 

Ultimately, "Summer Within" is a life-affirming journey that invites viewers to reflect on the importance of community, the power of discovering one’s roots, and the possibility of finding belonging in unexpected places. By connecting with her ancestral past, Summer Minerva not only uncovers a queer lineage but also finds a new sense of home - a place where she can fully embrace both her Italian heritage and her gender identity. The film serves as a powerful reminder that our identities are often shaped by both the past and the present, and that through understanding our histories, we can build more inclusive, accepting futures. In "Summer Within", Summer Minerva and Adam Golub have created a documentary that is at once deeply personal and universally resonant, blending themes of family, heritage, gender identity, and the quest for love and belonging. It is a story that shows the transformative power of discovering one's ancestral roots and embracing the complexities of who we are. Through Summer’s journey, the film offers an inspiring narrative of self-discovery, love, and the enduring power of tradition.

 

via: Vimeo

imdb and threedollarbillcinema.org

Image credits: Vimeo