Gabino Rodríguez and Teresa Sanchez are teamed once again to portray another fascinating variation of the mother-son dynamic explored across Pereda’s feature films – this time as a soldier with violent urges and a woman gripped by fear that her husband’s unexplained absence is permanent. Counterbalancing the film’s quiet, and at times unsettling, study of violence, masculinity and family, is the sundrenched beauty and expressive landscapes surrounding its small town rural setting. Dramatically expanding the uncertainty between documentary and fiction explored so powerfully in Interview, Pereda interjects Summer of Goliath’s gripping story with extended and revealing interviews – offering alternate perspectives on the film’s characters. – HG