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Review

Jaglom's story centers around a famous theatrical family holding their last summer production before they sell their country house. The elegant matriarch, Helena (the great Lindfors), holds court while the various guests attempt awkward seductions with each other. Jaglom's own Smiles of a Summer Night employs his meandering, relaxed style to film this encounter session with equal amounts of insight, bickering, humor and pretention. The debate about stage versus cinema is interesting and observant, but the same can't be said for rather bad concentration exercises in which one of the family members "interprets" various animals. Like the characters, some of the actors fare better than others. Last Summer in the Hamptons can be affectionate and appealing when not being downright irritating.