August Weekend: A dusty bit of social maneuvering

Is it worth it?

If you have a thing for old, stagey dramas where everyone talks like they are reading from a etiquette manual, you might find something here. If you prefer movies that actually move, stay far away. It’s for the folks who like looking at period sets and wondering how people survived such awkward social circles without losing their minds.

There is this moment at the dinner party where the older man—the one with the deep pockets—just stares at the girl like he’s picking out a new tie. It’s gross. It’s also exactly the kind of power trip you expect, but seeing it play out in these old, grainy frames makes it feel somehow more cold.

The younger guy, the one who actually likes her, is just... there. He spends half the runtime looking like he’s about to sneeze or cry. It’s hard to root for him when he barely says anything back to the guy trying to steal his date. Where’s the fire, pal?

Odd bits and pieces

• The lighting makes everyone look like they are perpetually standing in a dusty attic.
• The way they hold their wine glasses is genuinely distracting. Why are their pinkies always sticking out like that?
• There is a scene in the garden that feels like it lasts for three days.
• The background music tries way too hard to tell you how to feel. We get it, it’s a sad situation!

I couldn't help but compare the stiffness here to something like Eve's Lover, where the social climbing actually felt like it had some stakes. Here, it’s all just people walking through rooms and sighing. It’s not necessarily bad, but it’s definitely sleepy.

Honestly, I kept waiting for someone to just throw a drink in someone else's face. Nothing happens. They just keep talking in these polite, filtered sentences while the world outside the frame clearly has more interesting things going on.

It’s not a complete waste, but it sure isn't a masterpiece. It’s just a weekend, and by Monday, you’ll probably have forgotten the whole thing happened. 🤷‍♂️