In 2008 the Department of Film celebrated summer with a short series of films from MoMA’s collection set during the season when people relax in the sun—and end up caught off guard. Many filmmakers treat summer as a time when bad or unexpected things happen: swimmers are attacked; lovers betray each other, often with friends; passion leads to babies and sudden, unwanted domesticity; and, on a global scale, bombs are dropped and wars begin. To continue our “cheering on” of summer, the department presents a selection of films that exp... Read more

In 2008 the Department of Film celebrated summer with a short series of films from MoMA’s collection set during the season when people relax in the sun—and end up caught off guard. Many filmmakers treat summer as a time when bad or unexpected things happen: swimmers are attacked; lovers betray each other, often with friends; passion leads to babies and sudden, unwanted domesticity; and, on a global scale, bombs are dropped and wars begin. To continue our “cheering on” of summer, the department presents a selection of films that explore the perils and excitement of the weeks of heat and humidity.