According to Greta (also known as
Surviving Summer in the UK) is a 2009 American independent drama film starring
Hilary Duff,
Ellen Burstyn,
Michael Murphy,
Evan Ross, and
Melissa Leo. Set in
Ocean Grove,
New Jersey, and directed by Nancy Bardawil, making her feature film directing debut.
Plot
Greta (
Hilary Duff) is seventeen, bright, beautiful and seriously rebellious; she's full of sarcasm that barely disguises the hurt inside. Pushed aside by her mother, Karen (
Melissa Leo), who is on her third marriage and counting, Greta is shipped off to her grandparents for the summer. She's not happy about it and neither are her grandparents. In fact, she tells them that she fully intends to kill herself before the summer is over and is currently compiling a notebook of
suicide methods.
While working at a local Seafood restaurant, Greta falls for a charismatic short-order cook named Julie (
Evan Ross), only to find out he's been in and out of a juvenile correctional facility for stealing cars. Now he's determined to do something with his life, and tries to convince Greta to not give up on hers. Although Greta's grandparents Katherine (
Ellen Burstyn) and Joseph (
Michael Murphy) are initually concerned about her boyfriend's criminal past, Julie proves himself worthy of their trust and demonstrates that he truly does care for Greta (Joseph shows Julie how much he does trust in him, by telling him about Greta's father, who had committed suicide in front of Greta when she was very young).
While the four are out sailing in Joseph's boat, Greta tries to purposely drown herself. Though she was pulled out of the water by Julie, the fright gave Katherine a near heart attack. Katherine is ok, though she and her husband stay the night at the local hospital. Julie is mad at Greta, telling her that she should appreciate the life she has. The near catastrophe gives Greta a wake-up call and shows her how deeply her own actions impact those around her.
Once Katherine gets back from the hospital, Greta is determined to show her how sorry she is (which she does by making her a proper garden) yet Katherine is still mad at her, telling Greta she doesn't even know what she's sorry about. She and Greta have a heart to heart, although they are interrupted by Greta's mother, Karen and her current husband, who have come to take Greta to a summer boot camp.
Greta runs away to talk to Julie who tells her that she is indeed, very messed up, but a boot camp will never help her if she doesn't want to help herself. Julie's advice calms Greta and she returns to the house to find her mother has already packed up her things. In a struggle to stay (on Greta and Katherine's part) and a struggle to leave (Karen and her husband's part), Joseph arrives and interrupts them all telling Karen that Greta does not need a bootcamp, she needs love, and that Greta is staying with them as well as she.
The three woman bond looking at old pictures and the movie ends with Greta leaving her suicide notebook in the ocean and in a voice over (letter to her mom) thanking her for letting her stay for the rest of the summer with her Grandparents.
Cast
Production
The film is based in
Asbury Park,
Ocean Grove and
Neptune, according to Steve Gorelick of the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission in
Newark. "It's being made in the $1 to $2-million-dollar range," Gorelick said. Meanwhile, Kevin Chambers's home on Ocean Pathway in Ocean Grove was leased for the film production. Chambers has moved out of his home while the film crew rearranges and completes filming there. On October 13, 2007, film crews shut down the train station in Bradley Beach for shooting. The film finished full production in mid November 2007. Later in May 2008 scenes were re-shot. The film name has been changed to
According to Greta for the US release, although shown earlier as "Greta" in an L.A. screening.
Releases
According to Greta had a
limited release in theatres across the
United States on December 11, 2009, later followed by a
DVD release on January 19, 2010 in the US, on November 25, 2009 in
Australia,
on March 12, 2010 in
Germany,
[5] and on June 21, 2010 in the
United Kingdom. The film was released under Icon Home Entertainment and holds the alternative name of
Surviving Summer in the UK.
Shortly after the release of the DVD, it reached #2 on the iTunes UK Top Film Sales Chart, with scarce promotion.
Reception
Currently holds a fresh rating of 80% on Rotten Tomatoes. It is Hilary Duff's highest critically acclaimed film to date.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/According_to_Greta
