18/07/2024 - Martin Smatana and Veronika Zacharová's animated short playfully captures nostalgic memories of an eventful Eastern European family vacation

The International Competition of Shorts at Fest Anča 2024 opened with the delightful and humorous animation Hello Summer, co-directed by Martin Smatana and Veronika Zacharová. This co-production between Slovakia, the Czech Republic and France, which world-premiered at Annecy and won the Young Audience Award, follows a family of four on an eventful beach holiday. With the setting styled to resemble a retro French Riviera, the film begins with a soft, uplifting orchestral waltz featuring accordion and strings. It soon transitions to the film’s theme song, the French ‘60s hit "Douliou Douliou Saint-Tropez" by Raymond Lefebvre and Paul Mauriat, perfectly capturing the excitement and whimsical atmosphere of the summer season.

Hello Summer is a 2D computer animation that excels in character and background design, masterfully blending vibrant, hand-drawn elements with stop-motion techniques. It features vacation-themed, real-life objects that are cleverly repurposed: for instance, sunglasses are transformed into bicycles, and flight tickets morph into buses. This adds a playful and imaginative dimension to the story, providing an element of discovery to the viewing experience.

The characters are designed in a minimalist style through simple geometric shapes, and they communicate solely through onomatopoeias, making them both easily recognisable and endearingly quirky. This simplicity contrasts sharply with the complex lines and shapes of the real-life objects used in the film, though these elements are harmonised through a well-coordinated colour scheme. The blend of styles and forms exemplifies the transformative power of animation, creating a fictionalised 2D world where different types of imagery collaborate to form a cohesive whole.

The story is both sweet and highly relatable, depicting a family's journey that begins with the initial excitement of departure. However, their anticipation soon gives way to common vacation mishaps: lost baggage, tourist traps and disappointing accommodations. Upon arriving at the beach, each character finds themselves pursuing their individual desires - the dad seeks relaxation, the mom wants to shop, the son prefers to read, and the young daughter is eager to play - which leads to temporary separations. Still, together they transform all setbacks into cherished memories, turning every mishap into heartwarming experiences shared with loved ones.

As the ending credits roll to the tune of the theme song, you are transported back from a nostalgic, fun trip, with the music resonating long after the film ends. You might find yourself humming the melody, reminiscent of replaying a favourite song from a holiday, reliving joyful moments while flipping through photo albums.