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New Movies: Winter Spring Summer or Fall (2024) by Tiffany Paulsen

  • Writer: dailyentertainment95
    dailyentertainment95
  • May 9
  • 9 min read

Winter Spring Summer or Fall (2024) by Tiffany Paulsen: A Seasonal Romance

Winter Spring Summer or Fall is a coming-of-age romantic drama that explores the fleeting yet impactful nature of first love across the changing seasons of a pivotal year. Directed by Tiffany Paulsen in her feature film debut, the movie centers on two contrasting teenagers navigating their senior year of high school and the uncertainties of their futures.

Detailed Summary

The film introduces Remi Aguilar (Jenna Ortega), a driven, Harvard-bound academic, and Barnes Hawthorne (Percy Hynes White), a music-obsessed slacker planning a gap year. Their paths cross by chance in the winter of their senior year during a train ride to New York City. Despite their vastly different personalities and aspirations, an immediate connection forms. The narrative unfolds over four significant days, each set in a different season – winter, spring, summer, and fall – illustrating how their relationship evolves through tentative flirtations, moments of rebellion, misunderstandings, and heartbreak. As Remi's plans for Harvard loom in the fall, the young couple is forced to confront the question of whether their budding love can withstand the pressures of their diverging life paths and the daunting transition into adulthood. The film attempts to capture the bittersweet essence of young love, navigating the balance between ambition and finding passion, and the fears associated with growing up and leaving childhood behind.

Plot Summary

Winter Spring Summer or Fall follows the episodic romance of Remi and Barnes over the course of a year. They meet during their senior year of high school and spend four non-consecutive but impactful days together, one in each season. Starting with their chance encounter in winter, the film progresses through their evolving connection during prom night in spring, a significant summer day, and the final challenging moments in the fall as college decisions and future plans create increasing tension. The central conflict lies in their differing life goals—Remi's academic ambition contrasted with Barnes's aimlessness—and whether their relationship can overcome these fundamental differences and the inevitable changes that come with leaving adolescence.

Director's Vision

Tiffany Paulsen, primarily known as a screenwriter for romantic comedies like Holidate and About Fate, makes her directorial debut with Winter Spring Summer or Fall. Her vision for the film was to create a modern coming-of-age romance with a unique structural "hook": telling a full relationship story by checking in with the characters on a single day in each of the four seasons. Paulsen meticulously crafted distinct visual palettes and musical moods for each season to differentiate them visually and tonally, enhancing the storytelling through atmospheric changes. She drew inspiration from classic teen romances of the '80s and '90s (like those by John Hughes and Cameron Crowe) and the intimate dialogue-driven style of Richard Linklater's Before trilogy. Paulsen aimed to explore the complexities of first love, compatibility, and the challenges of navigating the cusp of adulthood, emphasizing that love can blossom even with unexpected people and amidst uncertain futures.

Themes

  • First Love and Its Complexities: The film delves into the innocent yet often turbulent nature of young love, showcasing the intense emotions, conflicts, and vulnerabilities that come with a first significant relationship.

  • Coming-of-Age and Transition: It explores the anxieties and pressures associated with the transition from high school to adulthood, including college decisions, career paths, and the realization that childhood friendships and relationships may change.

  • Ambition vs. Aimlessness: A central theme is the stark contrast between Remi's driven, structured ambition and Barnes's free-spirited, less defined approach to life. The film explores how these differing perspectives impact their relationship and personal growth.

  • Timing and Missed Chances: The seasonal structure implicitly highlights the role of timing in relationships and the idea that while two people might be "right" for each other, circumstances and life choices can lead to missed opportunities or difficult decisions.

Key Success Factors

  • Chemistry of Lead Actors: The undeniable chemistry between Jenna Ortega and Percy Hynes White, previously established in Wednesday, is consistently highlighted as a strong point, elevating the material and making their romance feel believable.

  • Unique Episodic Structure: The concept of revisiting the characters across four distinct days in different seasons provides an intriguing narrative framework, allowing for a focused look at key moments in their relationship.

  • Aesthetic and Musical Style: The film's intentional use of distinct visual palettes for each season and a carefully curated soundtrack, featuring artists like The Talking Heads, contribute to its atmospheric charm and resonate with audiences who appreciate these elements.

  • Relatability of Themes: The universal themes of first love, navigating future aspirations, and the anxieties of coming-of-age resonate with a wide audience, particularly young adults.

Summary Short

Winter Spring Summer or Fall is a coming-of-age romantic drama starring Jenna Ortega and Percy Hynes White as two high school seniors who fall in love over four significant days across a year, navigating their contrasting ambitions and the bittersweet challenges of transitioning to adulthood.

Awards and Nominations

Winter Spring Summer or Fall premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Festival on June 6, 2024, as part of its official selection.

Critics Reception

Critical reception for Winter Spring Summer or Fall has been mixed to lukewarm.

  • The Movie Blog: Describes the film as "sweet but uneven," praising the "meet-cute steeped in indie charm" and the charismatic leads, but finding the later seasonal segments "rushed and fragmented." It notes the film feels "more like a scrapbook than a lived-in story" at times, yet acknowledges its "tender, imperfect portrait of first love."

  • Next Best Picture: Gives the film a 7/10, praising the "sweet and appealing chemistry" between Ortega and White. However, it criticizes the screenplay as "rigid and blunt in its exposition and themes," resulting in one-dimensional supporting characters. It suggests the concept of the four-day structure "may not have been used to the fullest effect."

  • The Cinematic Reel: Found the film to "fail to add originality and depth to an already rich tapestry of films" within the coming-of-age genre. It criticized the screenplay for being "riddled with clichéd dialogue and shallow character development" and noted that the male lead's initial pursuit of the female lead felt "stalker-ish and creepy."

  • InSession Film: In a review titled "Movie Review (Tribeca 2024): 'Winter Spring Summer or Fall' is an Empty YA Romance," the site states the film "lacks the instinctive quality" of its influences (like the Before trilogy). While acknowledging the leads' chemistry, it calls the film a "frustratingly vacant romantic drama" that will likely become "content" on streaming.

Overall Summary of Critics Reception: Critics generally agree on the strong chemistry between lead actors Jenna Ortega and Percy Hynes White and commend Tiffany Paulsen's visual and musical direction. However, many reviews point to a weaker screenplay, generic dialogue, underdeveloped supporting characters, and a failure to fully capitalize on its unique seasonal structure or distinguish itself significantly within the romantic drama genre. The film is often described as charming but ultimately lacking deeper substance.

Reviews

Reviews from both critics and audiences are varied. Many viewers express enjoyment, often highlighting the central romance and the performances of Ortega and White as the primary reasons to watch. They appreciate the film as a "simple but beautiful movie" or a "heartfelt journey" that brings a sense of nostalgia. Conversely, some user reviews echo critical sentiments, pointing out a "bad script and barely any plot," a feeling of a "machine-made" story, or issues with pacing.

Overall Summary of Reviews: Reviews indicate that the film's primary appeal lies in the engaging chemistry of its lead actors and its familiar, comforting romantic drama tropes. While some find it a lovely and emotional journey, others feel it falls short on plot and originality.

Production

Winter Spring Summer or Fall is an independent production. The film was shot in locations including Stansbury Park, Utah. It marks the feature directorial debut for Tiffany Paulsen, who previously had an established career as a screenwriter.

Production Companies

  • Republic Pictures (United States)

  • Motion Picture Corporation of America (MPCA) (United States)

  • Wall Fly (United States)

  • Prospero Pictures

  • Resolute Films and Entertainment

  • Senator Film Produktion

  • Ulterior Productions

Sales Companies: Republic Pictures (United States)

Distribution Companies

  • Republic Pictures (United States)

  • Paramount Global Content Distribution (United States)

    • These companies handled the film's limited theatrical release and digital distribution in the United States.

Release Date on Streaming

Winter Spring Summer or Fall was released digitally and for streaming in the United States on April 25, 2025.

Theatrical Release

The film had its world premiere at the 2024 Tribeca Festival on June 6, 2024. It later received a limited theatrical release in the United States on April 25, 2025.

Why to Recommend This Movie

  • Charming Lead Performances: The undeniable chemistry and engaging performances of Jenna Ortega and Percy Hynes White make their characters' romance compelling and enjoyable to watch.

  • Nostalgic Romantic Drama: If you enjoy classic coming-of-age romantic dramas with a focus on young love, emotional connections, and a bittersweet tone, this film hits many familiar and comforting notes.

  • Unique Seasonal Structure: The film's narrative approach of exploring a relationship through four distinct days, one in each season, offers an interesting structural device for storytelling.

  • Accessible Viewing: As a digital/streaming release, it is easily accessible for those looking for a straightforward romance to watch at home.

Why to Watch Movie

  • Fans of Jenna Ortega and Percy Hynes White: If you enjoyed their dynamic in Wednesday and are curious to see them in a romantic lead capacity, their chemistry is a highlight.

  • Enjoy Coming-of-Age Stories: To see a contemporary take on the universal experiences of senior year of high school, navigating future ambitions, and the anxieties of growing up.

  • Appreciate Aesthetic & Music in Film: To experience a film where distinct visual palettes and a carefully curated soundtrack play a significant role in setting the mood and conveying emotional progression.

  • Lighthearted Romance: If you're looking for a relatively light and comforting romantic drama that explores themes of first love without excessive complexity or heavy drama.

What Movie Trend Film is Following

The film is following the trend of "Gen Z Romance" or "Coming-of-Age Digital Drama," which often features popular young actors, explores themes relevant to contemporary youth (like navigating online lives, college pressures, and mental health nuances, though Winter Spring Summer or Fall focuses more on traditional teen angst), and is primarily distributed via streaming platforms or limited theatrical releases. It often draws inspiration from classic teen movie tropes while updating them for a modern sensibility.

What Big Social Trend is Following

The film follows the big social trend of "Navigating Identity and Future in a Rapidly Changing World" among young adults. It captures the anxieties and pressures faced by Gen Z as they approach adulthood, including intense academic and career expectations, the uncertainty of future paths, and the struggle to balance personal relationships with individual aspirations. The film touches upon the widespread experience of young people grappling with big life decisions and the fear of "what's next."

Final Verdict

Winter Spring Summer or Fall is a charming yet flawed romantic drama that benefits significantly from the strong chemistry between its lead actors, Jenna Ortega and Percy Hynes White. While its unique seasonal structure is intriguing, the screenplay often relies on familiar tropes and can feel underdeveloped in its supporting characters and broader narrative. It offers a sweet and accessible portrayal of first love and the challenges of coming-of-age, making it a worthwhile watch for fans of the genre and the leads, but it may not leave a lasting impression compared to its more acclaimed predecessors.

Recommendations for Filmmakers

  • Develop Stronger Screenplays: Even with a compelling concept and charismatic leads, a robust and original screenplay with well-developed characters (including supporting roles) is crucial for a film to stand out and achieve deeper impact.

  • Maximize Unique Structural Devices: If a film uses an unconventional structure (like the seasonal chapters here), ensure it is fully integrated into the narrative and thematic development, not just serving as a stylistic choice.

  • Embrace Nuance in Character Portrayals: While archetypes can be useful, allowing characters to transcend simple labels (e.g., "overachiever," "slacker") and embrace more complex motivations and flaws can lead to richer storytelling.

Recommendations for Movie Industry

  • Invest in Quality Writing for Genre Films: Recognize that romantic dramas and coming-of-age stories, while often popular, benefit immensely from strong, thoughtful writing that goes beyond clichés and explores the human experience with depth.

  • Support Emerging Directors with Strong Creative Control: While Tiffany Paulsen is an established screenwriter, ensuring that first-time feature directors have the resources and support to fully realize their vision, especially in terms of script development, is vital.

  • Adapt Distribution Strategies: Acknowledge that not all films are built for wide theatrical release and that digital and streaming platforms offer viable and successful avenues for reaching target audiences, particularly for niche genres or films starring popular young actors.

Final Conclusions

Winter Spring Summer or Fall delivers a pleasant, if not groundbreaking, romantic journey, largely carried by the engaging performances of Jenna Ortega and Percy Hynes White. It effectively taps into the universal experience of young love and the anxieties of growing up, aligning with contemporary trends in youth-focused cinema. While its execution has received mixed reviews, the film contributes to the ongoing dialogue about the challenges and beauty of adolescence in a rapidly evolving world. It serves as a reminder that even familiar stories can find new life through fresh faces and thoughtful, albeit sometimes imperfect, directorial choices.


 

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