On a journey that spans the formative years of their lives, two sisters navigate their loving but volatile father during their yearly summer visits to his home in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

With grounded thoughtfulness, debut feature director Alessandra Lacorazza weaves a rich tapestry of memories in New Mexico as childhood and adolescence collide with the realities of adulthood. René Pérez Joglar (also known by his musical moniker Residente) gives a layered and gut-wrenching performance as the charming-yet-troubled Vicente, struggling to fully connect with his daughters through games that slowly lose their luster in the shadow of his habits. A talented cast, including Sasha Calle and Lío Mehiel (Sundance Special Jury Prize for Performance as the lead of last year’s Mutt), inhabit Violeta and Eva through cinematic ellipses as their understanding of their father deepens. In The Summers proves both an emotional capsule of growing up within a fragmented family and a love letter to the resilience needed to survive.—AS