There are movies you watch. Others you simply experience. Like those that leave you with a pleasant feeling that’s hard to explain—like the sensation of skin still salty after a day at the beach, an outdoor nap, or a leisurely after-dinner chat that drags on in good company. Call Me by Your Name, Zorba the Greek, and La Piscinebelong to that category—stories that seem to move at the slow, carefree pace so characteristic of a Mediterranean summer, where time stretches out, silences speak as loudly as words, and every scene invites you to linger a little longer. It’s no coincidence that Spanish artist Rossy de Palma has selected these films for the MANGO Slow Summer Cinema experience, films that, according to her, perfectly capture the essence of slow summer: a way of experiencing it that prioritizes the pleasure of small moments, the beauty of the everyday, and the art of enjoying life without rushing. Amid sun-drenched landscapes, memorable encounters, and characters who seem to understand that there are times in life when you have to pause, these three films remind us that, sometimes, the best way to make the most of summer is simply to let it happen.
MANGO SLOW SUMMER CINEMA by Rossy de Palma
The Spanish artist recommends her favorite films for summer evenings
La Piscine (1969) is set in a villa on the French Riviera, where what appears to be a summer getaway among friends turns into a delicate game of desire, jealousy, and tensions simmering under the Mediterranean sun. Rossy de Palma has chosen it as one of her must-see films for the slow summer precisely because “it’s a story in which everything happens very slowly.” Here, glances last longer than conversations, afternoons seem endless, and time stretches out as if no one had anything urgent to do... Between dips in the pool, naps, cocktails, and a wardrobe that remains a style reference decades later, La Piscine turns slowness into an art form.
Just before embarking on a trip to the island of Crete, the young Basil—serious, intellectual, and somewhat tense—meets Zorba, his complete opposite. This peasant, as free-spirited as he is unpredictable, will teach him an unexpected lesson about how to laugh off setbacks and celebrate every moment. It’s no coincidence that our film curator has chosen Zorba the Greek (1964) as one of her favorite summer movies: “If I had to live in a movie, it would be in Zorba; it’s dancing, it’s celebration... There’s plenty of drama, too, but just like in real life, isn’t there?” Set against the backdrop of the Mediterranean and featuring the unforgettable sirtaki as the grand finale, Zorba the Greek reminds us that sometimes the best way to face life is to get up... and dance.
Long days, bike rides along dusty roads, endless after-dinner conversations, and the feeling that time stands still just when everything is about to change. Call Me by Your Name (2017) is set in northern Italy during the 1980s and tells the story of Elio’s emotional awakening and his intense romance with Oliver. Rossy de Palma has chosen it as one of her must-sees because for her, few stories portray the essence and intensity of a summer romance with such delicacy. And perhaps that is where the magic of the slow summer lies: in savoring every moment, knowing that some summers—precisely because they are fleeting—will remain an indelible memory, no matter how many years go by.
