"School's out for summer!" sings Alice Cooper as the throngs of high school kids pour out of the classroom and run towards that temporary feeling of freedom and liberation offered by the summer vacation. It's enough to make the working adult filled with envy and nostalgia for a time when they could enjoy a six week break without a care in the world. Of course the teenagers in Dazed And Confused, Richard Linklater's loving ode to the hopes and dreams of the mid-70s youth, have their own problems to deal with, whether it's avoiding being beaten by the seniors or getting drugs and booze for the long evening ahead while making sure the parents don't catch on to the house party they have planned. The beauty of Dazed And Confused is that even while he flirts with this idealistic - perhaps unrealistic - notion of teenagers breaking loose on the last day of school, the characters within also express the cynicism that this is a fleeting moment destined to pass as "adult responsibilities" take root. The great news is for fans of Dazed And Confused (and who isn't, after seeing the film?) is that Linklater has a spiritual successor in the pipeline, Everybody Wants Some. What other great films can you think of which capture the essence of summer? Why not let us know in the comments?
