Movies are an incredible way to tell a story or provide a vantage point you never thought was personally possible. Not only can films take you to places either too far away to reach or existing only in the imagination they can place you in a life completely different from your own. For this to be accomplished you might have to look beyond movies geared towards your specific demographic to something designed for an entirely different audience. As a father of a daughter my child has always been somewhat of a mystery to me, I found it nearly impossible to identify with the significant milestones of her life. The film ‘Summer Eleven’ was created particularly for girls in that pivotal pre-teen period. While I’m not part of that focus group I was impressed by the craftsmanship and integrity of this production. It is something that a real world tween girl will not only readily understand but completely relate to both with the situations and characters. It is a refreshing change from the usual supernatural bad relationships depicted in the ‘Twilight Saga’ or the fanciful antics of the Disney Tween oriented sit-coms like ‘Hannah Montana’ or ‘Wizards of Waverley Place’. While the aforementioned faire has their place in the universe of Tween entertainment ‘Summer Eleven’ provides something considerably more grounded in reality; a story that your Tween will recognize as honest and presented with sensitivity and style. What girls of this age are going through is very real to them and this film acknowledges that aspect of their lives and affords them the respect they require. This is a film that permits tweens to demonstrate that they are real people that in the midst of growing up in this confused world have to face problems and circumstances that previous generations could barely fathom. When most of us where eleven the worst we faced was the threat of communists and the potential for nuclear annihilation. Still with those problems they were somewhat detached called to mind mostly during air raid drills marching us to a basement bomb shelter at school. For kids at this age the constant barrage of the media brings the adult problems of the entire world constantly invading their young lives.

I admit that I was extremely surprised when I noticed that this movie was the pet project of a man; Joseph Kell. The story captures the distinctive personalities of the quartet of eleven year old girls it was difficult to reconcile the fact that this was an entirely vicarious experience on the part of the filmmaker. Kell has been a steadily working character actor mostly on television for some twenty five years. This project is his first time under the multiple hats of screenwriter, director, editor and producer. When a filmmaker invests this much of himself into a project it is certainly a personal one. This translates here to a care in how he presents this movie; sincerely, considerately and with incredible sensitivity. Perhaps a quarter of a century assuming the personae of characters in a plethora of series and situations has endowed Kell with the ability and curiosity to delve into the lunar landscape of a pre-teen girl’s psyche. One of the most impressive aspects of this production is how Kell manages to break away from the standard Hollywood silliness that is usual inserted in movies like this for age appropriate problems. Usually such plot contrivances fall into two categories. The first is overly light and fluffy with just a dash of serious to add some credence. The second is overly difficult and melodramatic. In this case the gravitas of the obstacles placed before the central characters are so incredible that although they may be bases on real events are so far beyond the normal lives of the audience that they have to struggle to uncover any points of identification. With this film the problems the characters have to cope with are from real life, well mostly. They are not only age appropriate the difficulties are those that ring true as contemporary challenges.

The four girls that comprise the central cast are about to face one of the first major transitions in their young lives. This is the summer that separates their enrollment in elementary school as they must prepare to enter middle school, what we used to refer to as junior high school. This will mark a change in social structure and an entirely different way of education; running from class to class interacting with other students and teachers. Looking back we might forget how momentous this change can be since later in life it may be overshadowed by subsequent milestones. Vanessa (Alice Ziolkoski) has always wanted to be an actress. She might be young in years but has the drive and dedication of someone much older. Her life is about to reach a major landmark vital to achieve her objective. Vanessa has recently discovered that she is being seriously considered for a featured role in an upcoming movie. Getting this part would ensure her the notice of the industry and place her firmly on the road to stardom. Lizzie (Meaghan Hughes) has quite another type of problem in her life. Her brother has just returned from the Middle East and is having difficulty returning to civilian life after the insanity and hardship of combat. Lizzie loves her big brother and has always looked up to him but now he seems lost; a condition she is determining to alleviate. Jess (Sarah Butterworth) is facing the disintegration of her home life as she has to find some way to cope with the reality that her parents are splitting up and are at the point of separating. Finally, there is Peri (Sydney Fox). In many ways her problem is among the most identifiable. She is the new kid; latest member of the clique. She is also from a poor family, a difference that is always weighing heavily on her mind.

The young actresses here are phenomenal. They have a poise and talent that makes them performers to watch as their careers take off for greater things. Kell has done something many have tried but few have achieved; a tween oriented family film that has substance.