Robert D. Siegel was the writer and director behind the American romantic drama film Cruise, which was released in 2018. The film centers around the summer of 1987 in New York, and captures the feeling of youth, and nostalgia during this time. The restlessness of growing up and the cars and music of the time created a memorable summer. The story follows a young man from Queens, and after meeting a woman from a different background, his sense of self and emotions begin a journey of self-discovery and change.
On the surface, Cruise is about fast cars and youthful rebellion; however, there is much more below the surface. It is more than a young person’s fear of making a wrong choice, or the wrong choice in a relationship. It is about the fear of eternal stagnation and the courage it takes to get someone to open up.
Plot Summary
Gio Fortunato is a young, Italian American from Queens. As a mechanic, he takes pride in the neighborhood, and spends time with his friends. He is passionate about car racing and for his job of fixing cars. He also enjoys the predictable routine of the cars, his friends, and the community. The sense of comfort and tradition in his life is reinforced by the late-night banter, and street racing. His life was comfortable.
Things change for Gio when he encounters Jessica Weinberg. She arrives in his part of town with curiosity and confidence. Jessica has a different social background and lives with a structured and overly organized world. She crosses social boundaries and visits Gio’s part of town to seek something real and to explore the untamed beauty of his world.
Even if their meeting is casual, characters slowly build a bond of connection. Jessica is taken with the world that surrounds Gio, which is focused and full of fiery zeal, and in reciprocation, he is equally intrigued by her self-assurance and her will to act independently. They start to talk, drive around the town, and learn the basics of one another, and, regardless of their initial differences, they develop a companionship.
As the relationship evolves so do the issues that they confront. Gio’s friends and family do not approve of his interest to her, and while Jessica’s decision to conceal her real name adds friction, so does the fact that Gio is starting to realize that his world is incomplete, and he is at the inflection point of his life. He is about to step out from the known and familiar to the unknown.
Their journey is highlighted by contemplative intervals and the courage to embrace candidness. Here, the characters engage and understand the value of trust in a relationship. In the end, however, they are left to ponder if their bond can withstand the test of time, long after a summer of bliss.
Main Characters
Gio Fortunato (Spencer Boldman)
Gio is a proud and strong-willed young man, loyal to the neighborhood and the roots of his family. He evokes the image of a young man who is unbending and certain, yet there is a hint of doubt and apprehension about the future, about the potential one can possess, and about opening up to change. He is the paradox of being in a place of much comfort, and yet having the potential and the yearning to break out.
Jessica Weinberg / Francesca Russo (Emily Ratajkowski)
Jessica is the kind of person who is brilliant, daring and has the ability to think deeply. There is a portion of her that has a yearning for something unpredictable. Gio represents a whole new world for her, something that is real, yet she is also pained by the amount of her own life she is willing to disclose. In a way, she is that person who is willing to challenge the confines of expectation and pursue that inner curiosity.
Supporting characters
Friends, family, and neighborhood figures surrounding Gio contribute to the development of his sense of duty and identity. They provide contrast and serve as sources of laughter, conflict, and tension. While there is care for his well-being, there is also the expectation for him to conform to a certain way of life, and this pressure is reciprocated, as seen in the world of Jessica, who, although depicted as more distant, bears the same pressure to conform and uphold appearances.
Themes and messages
Coming of Age and Personal Growth
Gio and Jessica are both transitioning, and the film captures, with exquisite craftsmanship, the tension inherent in movements from where and who they are to who they want to be. Their narrative is about more than romance; it is centered on the conflict of self-agency.
Identity and Belonging
The film depicts the external and internal conflict of people defining themselves in relation to their place of origin, surrounding social expectations, and the roles they have historically performed. For both Gio and Jessica, the defining question crystallizes as: must we be who others expect us to be?
Cross-Cultural Connection
Despite both characters hailing from New York, their childhood experiences were starkly contrasting. Their relationship speaks to the vital need to address and bridge those divides, not only in social and cultural contexts but on the emotional plane as well. The film attests to the fact that people from vastly different backgrounds can have, and often do have, deep and meaningful relationships.
- Breaking Patterns
The film Cruise exemplifies the inner strength required for one to break away from a mundane life. Gio takes the discomfort of his routines for proof that something must be changed. He is nudged to explore the world from a different lens.
- Summer as a Metaphor for Change
One summer, the time setting for the story, is associated with fleeting beauty and metamorphosis, and serves to remind us of the small window of time available for important decisions. Summer is bound to end, but the growth encapsulated and reflected from overcome hurdles is durable.
Tone and Style
The tone of Cruise is characterized as nostalgic, romantic, and quietly introspective. The film is not fast-paced or explosive, as it contains car culture, late-night drives, and 1980s music. The film is not driven by action, but mood, dialog, and chemistry.
The summer evenings and New York streets are captured by warm and golden cinematography. The cars and music evoke emotion, linking characters to their recollections and aspirations. The film prioritizes emotion over drama and action over the feeling of fright.
Conclusion
Cruise is a heartfelt and intimate film about two young people stationed at a crossroads in their lives. It delicately and sincerely addresses the themes of maturing, venturing out of one’s comfort zone, and developing a relationship with someone who helps you understand yourself.
Rather than resolving the film around some dramatic turns, the emotional weight is derived from the characters’ gradual, quiet transformations. It’s about youthful decisions, the people who influence us, and summers that leave a stamp on us.
For audiences who appreciate contemplative coming-of-age cinema, evocative romance, and a wistful backdrop, Cruise is profoundly rewarding—and, indeed, a film that reminds us that love, and self-understanding, is something one finds when least expected.
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